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Breathalyzers for home, work & personal use

Alcohol Breathalyzers

Breathalyzers aren’t only used by law enforcement

Home / Personal Breathalysers

There is an increasing demand by responsible motorists to be able to use personal breathalysers to monitor their own alcohol levels before getting behind the wheel of a car and driving.

While this is a good thing, motorists should be aware that the reliability of the results obtained from using any such personal alcohol breath testing device relies heavily upon the quality and correct use of the device in question.

There are lots of personal breath testing devices available for the consumer to purchase and careful consideration should be taken in deciding which one to buy. Prices of breathalysers vary a great deal, as do their reliability, quality and accuracy. However, there are some reliable, accurate and affordable devices that can be used to give a good indication of a persons BAC (blood alcohol concentration) level. You should always do your research when looking to purchase a breathalyser, your driving license could depend on it!

Home office approved breath testing devices that the police use such as the Dräger 6810 are available for purchase to the general public by certain suppliers. However, such devices will probably be beyond the limits of the average consumers budget and no matter which device an individual purchases, a drink driving conviction will always rest on the reading a motorist provides the police, regardless of any reading a personal breathalyser may have produced.

CAUTION: Individuals using personal breath testing devices should be aware of the fact that residual alcohol in the mouth can cause artificially high readings. So if you are sitting in a pub or restaurant and have just finished your drink, the chances are that if you take a reading using a personal breathalyser device, the reading will be artificially high.

Alternatively and even more dangerously, the breath test reading may be artificially low if alcohol is still being absorbed into the blood stream. Individuals should always check their readings at least twice with a thirty minute interval between tests in order to determine if the alcohol level is rising or falling. The manufacturers instructions on the correct procedure to be used while operating the device should always be followed.

If in doubt, do not drive!!


Multiple Breathalyzer Uses

Breathalysers are being increasingly used in workplaces, educational establishments and by healthcare professionals. They can also be used in a variety of other settings including:

  • In the work place (especially where there is an element of risk relating to the job in question and where safety and sobriety is paramount)
  • Alcohol Awareness and Rehabilitation Programs
  • Her Majesty's Prisons
  • Universities & Educational Establishments
  • Research facilities
  • Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre's
  • Probation Offices
  • Halfway Houses
  • Medical & Healthcare Clinics

Alcohol has the potential to cause problems and accidents in all walks of life. Not just on the roads.