# Driving under the influence **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 18, 2002, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608 "2002-12-18T18:14:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davo14202](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@davo14202](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davo14202)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/1 "2002-12-18T18:14:11Z")
While of course I do not condone the act of driving under the influence of alcohol I have often heard that placing a penny or two in your mouth if you have to take a breath test for the police will register negative for alcohol. Is there any truth to this? Now that I am older and muture I would like to put the myth to bed. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/2 "2002-12-18T18:29:59Z")
> **[Defeating the Breathalyzer Test](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/take-my-breath-away/)** > > Will sucking on a penny or a breath mint help you defeat a breathalyzer test? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/3 "2002-12-18T18:34:40Z")
Nothing will trick the breath test. The fumes are coming up from your stomache. Now, if you DRANK the mouthwash… no, wait, there’s alcohol in it! Always hilarious to hear about what people will try, though! ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/4 "2002-12-18T18:38:23Z")
\>\> The fumes are coming up from your stomache. Also called the lungs. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/5 "2002-12-18T20:58:48Z")
No, I know for a fact that when I drink, the liquid goes to my stomache. If it went to my lungs, I would drown. Breath is merely the delivery system. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/6 "2002-12-18T21:06:27Z")
EJ: Depends on the mouthwash you use. I use either Rembrandt[sup]tm[/sup] or Tom’s[sup]tm[/sup], both of which have no alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/7 "2002-12-18T21:08:05Z")
p.s. I mean that’s the mouthwash I use. I don’t drink so I’m not worried about DUI. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/8 "2002-12-18T21:08:29Z")
Me too, actually! I just included it because mouthwash figures prominently in the “I can beat it if they can’t smell it” scenario. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/9 "2002-12-18T21:14:46Z")
Oh man, sticking pennies in your mouth? :smack: That is just vile. ---
**Author:** ![andy\_fl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@andy\_fl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andy_fl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/10 "2002-12-18T21:52:53Z")
There are some molecular seives (small pellets) which I’ve dealt with in the past that remove alcohol vapours very effectively. Sorry, but I will not tell you where to get it and even if I did I don;t about the safety of you popping these things in your mouth (more so when you are drunk). And I don’t want to speculate on you trying to slip them into the breath analyzer. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/11 "2002-12-18T22:14:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EJsGirl \* > \*\*Nothing will trick the breath test. The fumes are coming up from your stomache. Now, if you DRANK the mouthwash… no, wait, there’s alcohol in it! > > Always hilarious to hear about what people will try, though! \*\* Balogna. There are no “fumes coming from the stomach”; the alcohol measured by the breathalyzer comes from the LUNGS. The breathalyser measures BLOOD ALCOHOL, which crosses over when blood circulates through the lungs. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/12 "2002-12-18T23:04:16Z")
No shit? I had heard for years that it was from ingested alcohol via the stomach. My bad. Of course, I failed every breathalyzer I ever took, so… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/13 "2002-12-18T23:05:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andy\_fl \* > \*\*There are some molecular seives (small pellets) which I’ve dealt with in the past that remove alcohol vapours very effectively. Sorry, but I will not tell you where to get it and even if I did I don;t about the safety of you popping these things in your mouth (more so when you are drunk). And I don’t want to speculate on you trying to slip them into the breath analyzer. \*\* So, you could tell me, but then you’d have to kill me? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/14 "2002-12-19T00:27:48Z")
Actually the alcohol comes from the bottle. Then to the “stomache” , then to the blood, then to the lungs, then to the breathalizer and the you and your alcohol go together for a ride downtown. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_The\_Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Buck\_The\_Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_The_Diver)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/15 "2002-12-19T01:42:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by malkavia \* > \*\*Oh man, sticking pennies in your mouth? :smack: > That is just vile. \*\* Ass pennies? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/16 "2002-12-19T01:44:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Buck The Diver \* > \*\*Ass pennies? 😃 \*\* That was actually my very first thought too. Bwahahaaha. Gross. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/17 "2002-12-19T04:18:01Z")
I`ve heard of assclamps, assmonkeys, assgrips, and assholes but what the fuck is an asspennie?? **sailor** – You left out the liver, now do it over. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/18 "2002-12-19T05:36:35Z")
**whuckfistle** : Well, the search page is giving me grief, but somewhere in the BBQ Pit is a thread titled (I believe) “No, I don’t want any ass change!” which I’m sure you’ll enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/19 "2002-12-19T05:42:50Z")
Here it is: " Attention customers, we will no longer be taking any ass change." [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57767](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57767) ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608/20 "2002-12-19T06:13:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EJsGirl \* > \*\*No shit? I had heard for years that it was from ingested alcohol via the stomach. My bad. I _gotta_ ask. So all this time,you thought,when you inhale the air goes to the tummy,and vice-versa??? > [@](#): > > Of course, I failed every breathalyzer I ever took, so… 😉 \*\* Soo _how_ many DUI’s do you have fercrissakes? If none why the breathalyzre’s?? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-under-the-influence/143608.md?page=2)