If a person slammed 1 shot of, say, Everclear… then IMMEDIATELY blew into a Breathalyzer, would the results be any different then if they had waited some time before blowing? What kind of brujeria is involved with these machines?Thank you
In: Chemistry
As you ingest alcohol beverages, the ethyl-alcohol metabolizes into your blood stream.
Ethanol is in the carbon dioxide exhaled from your lungs. A breathalyzer estimates your BAC based on the amount of ethanol it detects
The answer is yes. Part of the reason we ask “what time was your last drink?” is to control for residual mouth alcohol.
So yes, slamming ever clear can artificially inflate a BAC reading. Not from it being metabolized, but from residual strong traces in the mouth.
Hope that answers your question
Yes, quite different, due to all the residual alcohol in your throat and mouth giving off vapors.
This is why Law Enforcement MUST, per standard operating procedure, sit and observe you for 20 minutes before you are allowed to blow in the machine for evidence collection.
If you burp, belch or puke in that timeframe, you get counseled and the clock restarts. the number varies, but most jurisdictions, if you have to restart the clock twice, it gets marked as a Refusal, license is automatically suspended for a year, and if enough PC has been collected, they file for a warrant to just collect your blood to test instead.
I mean, there would be some alcohol in their mouth just from drinking a shot of everclear. Their blood (and thus their lungs) still wouldn’t have any alcohol in it, though.
It takes about 10-15 minutes for it to start diffusing into your blood in significant amounts.
Yes. Whenever you drink the breathalyzer will show higher results immediately after, most likely inaccurate results because you’ll literally be blowing ethanol into it. After waiting some time and not drinking your blood content will actually turn out a higher BAL because the alcohol will have been processed int your system by then.
As you wait the alcohol processes through your body, decreasing a breath test result, increasing a blood test.
No. Never.
I can throw back vodka, no problem. I took a sip of ever-clear, instant regret. Vodka has a nice mild, smooth burn. Ever-clear is straight fire, instant cottonmouth.
To answer your question, yes, it would be stronger.
For example: open a can of tuna in the bathroom, and take note of how the bathroom smells. Keep the tuna in the bathroom for 5 minutes, then take it out.
As time goes on, the tuna smell will become less obvious.
You can try this experiment again, turning on the vent, simulating breathing. (It is not the proper air movement, but it works.
I have a breathalyzer. I do not know how accurate it is, I got it for 20$ on amazon. I put a straw on the blowing end, but it into a shot, and sucked on the other end, results follow.
Ever clear (95%, 190 proof)
0.02, 0.02, 0.02, 0.80, 0.03.
Control (nothing on the other end
First round, I messed up. (0.0,0.0,0.04,0.02,0.0)
Second round, 0.00 all arround.
Vodka. (40%, 80 proof
0.02, 0.02, 0.02, 0.00, 0.02.
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