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In view of a comment HJ made in another thread and seeing as the festive season is virtually upon us I thought I'd mention that Costco is currently selling an electronic breath testing kit for only around £20.00. Given that it's easily possible to still be well over the limit the following day it's well worth the price I'd have thought for anyone who's likely to be indulging but may wish/need to drive and wants to be on the safe side.
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Hi V, it's been a while since I replied to any or your posts. How are you keeping?
Do drop me a line via hugo_moderator@honestjohn.co.uk
On the DIY breath test kit. A great idea in principle, provided it doesn't encourage people to drink 'to the limit'. I'm sure there will be some who will see it as an opportunity to do so though.
If it's used responsibly then it's a great idea. I know a few people who wished they hadn't driven that faitful evening.
Taxis are so cheap compared to the costs of getting caught or worse.
Morning after, though, very important and often overlooked.
H
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Currys have got testers in a pen, for £15.
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Hi Hugo - yeah, been a while! Will e.mail you when I've a mo.
Bobdabuilder - haven't seen those, are they reusable? The Costco variety has an LCD digital readout and comes supplied with a pack of 'straws' which appear to be the only consumable although they are washable.
H's point about drinking to the limit is a good one and I guess there'll be some (contrary to the advice given on the box!) who might try to do that. However I think such devices are worthwhile to enable those who may be in some doubt to check. Nobody in their right mind wants to have an accident and be done for drink driving do they.
ps can my little lad have your a signed photo? :)
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Such devices should only be believed if they give a positive reading........
DVD
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That's good advice DVD - to be fair the box does come with all sorts of advice and warnings to that effect.
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I don't think these things work;
If I've had 1/2 pint of lager shandy then I shall assume that I'm safe to drive whatever the machine says.
If I've had 6 whiskys then I shall assume that I am not safe to drive whatever the machien says.
Therefore, for me at least, the machine could only possibly be useful when I wasn't sure whether or not I was legal to drive.
Let us assume that for 1 pint I am and for two pints I am not (this is an assumption, its not supposed to be real).
Therefore, about 1 1/2 pints I move from safe to unsafe. Or legal to illegal if you prefer. Givent hat this will be affected by how much I've eaten, how much time has past, my weight, my fitness, my level of activity etc. etc. then how can a machine that doesn't know me, and doesn't access the same method of measurement that the police will use, have any use at all. Irrespective of the fact that the readings will be constantly changing anyway.
If you've had no drinks, by all means drive. If you've had a drink, then don't - that way you'll be sure.
Don't buy the machine, use the money for a taxi.
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Here's a radical suggestion. You don't need one of those things. If you've had even a sniff of a drink, don't drive. If you've had loads to drink the night before, and didn't stop drinking til 5am, probably best not to drive until at least the evening.
Is it really that difficult that people would actually consider machines to tell them if they're safe or not?
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Well I don't suppose there's many of us who at one time or another haven't had a few the night before and not known if we're safe the next day but driven off just the same. I might use such a device for that purpose but I probably wouldn't go out for a drink with one in my pocket and use it to determine whether I drove home or not.
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Surely the process of wondering whether or not you're safe to drive should be enough to stop you driving. So the breath-check thing is useful, but only because if you find yourself using it you know you shouldn't be driving.
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>>Givent hat this will be affected by how much I've eaten, >>how much time has past, my weight, my fitness, my level of >>activity etc. etc.
All these factors will affect the concentration of alcohol in your blood but not how you respond to a given concentration of alcohol in your blood.
The concentration of alcohol in your breath is an accurate measure of the amount of alcohol in your blood because one of the ways that your body excretes alcohol is in your breath. Just as there is an exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen between your blood and the inhaled/exhaled air there is a diffusion of alcohol from the most concentrated medium(i.e. blood) to the least concentrated (i.e air)across the mucosal membrane of the alveolus of the lung. Therefore, as long as the machine accurately measures the amount of alcohol in the exhaled air, then it'll work, just like the police breathalyser. On the other hand it may not be properly calibrated etc., that must be the main issue.
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Forgot to mention that of course this mechanism requires time to reach an equilibrium, that's why the police shouldn't take a reading if you have drunk anything in the last 20 minutes. Alcohol in your mouth can give a false reading.
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I think they're reusable, they look like a pen, which you blow into and they give a red or green sugnal.
I agree with the above, though. Any more than 1 1/2 (normal) pints and I won't drive.
It's just not worth it.
The testers are good for the morning/afternoon after the night before, though.
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Any more than *anything* and I won't drive. Boring, I know, but better safe than sorry.
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Frankly If I have had a heavy night, (as indeed I have tonight (god bless South West Trains)) I know when I still feel a bit "iffy" in the morning. Anything that slightly resembles a sniff of a hangover ( or worse *no hangover* ) means one is still suspect.
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