# Is a breathalyzer like this a good idea? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454 "2014-06-23T16:31:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/1 "2014-06-23T16:31:41Z")
I was considering getting [this device](http://www.wirelessoemshop.com/servlet/the-1826/Stay-Safe-Digital-Breathalyzer/Detail) for my son who is a college sophomore. No, he is not 21 years old, but I live in the real world and I know that alcohol is a part of his college experience. Would a device like this be helpful. My main concern is that it would give him a false sense of security if he were to use it and still be impaired. After all, having a few drinks limits a person’s ability to make good decisions. What do y’all think? Is a cheap device like this effective? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/2 "2014-06-23T18:19:40Z")
It runs from 0.00% to 0.19%, and to be honest with you, if I’d had one of those back in the day when I was 18 we’d have all been lining up to see who could peg the meter first. You know him better than I do. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/3 "2014-06-23T18:37:08Z")
Does he have a car at school? If not, I agree with **Bill Door** in that it’ll become a toy. If I had one & blew a .09 (or even a .07 - just below legal limit) I realize I’m not safe to drive a 3000+ vehicle because of slowed reactions but I don’t think I’d have any issue _walking_ back to a dorm room, probably not even at .16 (double legal limit). Legal limit is a far way from ssshhlurrring, staggering drunk. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/4 "2014-06-24T04:19:08Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > [snip] > Is a cheap device like this effective? $7.99? I thought a reliable one was closer to $799.00. ---
**Author:** ![Boogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Boogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boogly)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/5 "2014-06-24T06:28:33Z")
Alcohol may be a part of the experience but I doubt that college is like the movies portray them. Why would you get this for him? Has he never had a drink, that you know of? Or has he had too many drinks in the past? Are you afraid he won’t follow the don’t drink and drive rule? Or ride with people who are drinking? How soon is he starting school? Can you grab some good whiskey and have a night with him? Get a bit of a buzz and go for a walk and when he stumbles ask him what he thinks would happen if he were behind the wheel of a multi-ton vehicle and hit someone. This is his first step on his own…let him go and be there for him when he comes crawling back. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/6 "2014-06-24T06:43:27Z")
You really, seriously think a $7.99 device will be useful and not a party toy? It won’t. Trust him and let him make his mistakes. If you’ve raised him right this far, he’s already got the tools, so let him use them and be there if needed when/if he fucks up. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/7 "2014-06-24T06:47:11Z")
Um, don’t expect him to be effusively grateful in his thanks for that gift. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/8 "2014-06-24T07:39:28Z")
the only way I could see it being useful would be in a “morning after” type of way - has enough time passed since I’ve been drinking so that I can safely drive? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/9 "2014-06-24T08:54:05Z")
I don’t see anything in the ad copy that says this device compensates for the weight of the user, which would pretty much render it worthless - someone who weighs 150 lbs. is going to get to .08 a lot faster than someone who weighs 250. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/10 "2014-06-24T09:05:25Z")
At that price it’s a toy and you would have serious doubts about the accuracy. It could actually have negative results if he used it and thought he was safe to drive when he wasn’t. Trust the kid, let him have a few drinks and learn how to deal with it. Don’t give him something like that. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/11 "2014-06-24T11:44:47Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I don’t see anything in the ad copy that says this device compensates for the weight of the user, which would pretty much render it worthless - **someone who weighs 150 lbs. is going to get to .08 a lot faster than someone who weighs 250**. The breathalyzer measures the alcohol present in the breath and estimates a BAC. The weight of the subject is already a factor in BAC along with the amount of alcohol consumed. Neither factor( or anything else) needs to be entered into the breathalyzer. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/12 "2014-06-24T11:59:06Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I don’t see anything in the ad copy that says this device compensates for the weight of the user, which would pretty much render it worthless - someone who weighs 150 lbs. is going to get to .08 a lot faster than someone who weighs 250. As stated above that is not relevant. However, if I take a sip of beer and immediately use a breathalyzer the reading with be through the roof. Which is why there is a mandatory waiting period before the unit is used officially by police. Generally these things are not a great idea. There was a trend a little while ago to put them in bars. That stopped quickly when they became to focus of drinking games and led to more problems. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/13 "2014-06-24T12:13:23Z")
Surprisingly the ad doesn’t have a disclaimer. I was expecting, “for amusement purposes only” type of words. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/14 "2014-06-24T12:25:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > The breathalyzer measures the alcohol present in the breath and estimates a BAC. > > The weight of the subject is already a factor in BAC along with the amount of alcohol consumed. > Neither factor( or anything else) needs to be entered into the breathalyzer. You’re going to have to explain to me how “the weight of the subject is already a factor” if there’s no means by which the device is capable of knowing the weight of the subject. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/15 "2014-06-24T14:45:03Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You’re going to have to explain to me how “the weight of the subject is already a factor” if there’s no means by which the device is capable of knowing the weight of the subject. Its a measure of percentage of alcohol in the blood. Weight is not relevant. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/16 "2014-06-24T22:37:51Z")
Too cheap, and also, does he carry a purse? That thing is huge. They have keychain size ones for $30 - $70 something, and I’m sure they’re not completely accurate. These usually recommend a period of 30 minutes between the last drink and testing or it will be artificially high. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/17 "2014-06-24T23:06:22Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You’re going to have to explain to me how “the weight of the subject is already a factor” if there’s no means by which the device is capable of knowing the weight of the subject. I can use a meter to test the percentage of salt in a bucket of salt water. I don’t need to know how much water is in the bucket. I can put the same amount of salt in a bigger bucket with more water and use a meter which will show a lower percentage of salt. But the amount of water can still be an unknown. ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-a-breathalyzer-like-this-a-good-idea/691454/18 "2014-06-25T00:14:37Z")
Even the more expensive ones are not that good, I’ve had quite a few and took what I thought were the best ones to a bar where my friends ended up getting in a contest on who could blow the highest. But actually even the best ones tell you that you’re not to blow on it within 30 minutes of having your last drink, so that certainly had them going higher than what they should have. This is something cops rarely bring up as well, and there are many reasons why you can generally beat the rap by blowing, because you may in fact, not actually been legally drunk despite the blow reading showing you were. If you get the blood test, and you were over the legal limit, you’ll have a more difficult time explaining yourself.