| To estimate of your blood alcohol concentration | | | | customers with free alcohol breath tests using |
| (BAC) a breath alcohol test is given. The breath | | | | one of these two methods. The devices are also |
| alcohol test measures the amount of alcohol in | | | | used to monitor people in an alcohol rehabilitation |
| the air that you breathe out or exhale. There is a | | | | center or hospital. |
| simple hand held device that allows you to | | | | The breath alcohol self-test is used to estimate |
| measure your own breath alcohol level. If the | | | | your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The |
| device is calibrated correctly and used according | | | | results can help you decide whether it is safe to |
| to the manufacturer's directions, it will give you an | | | | drive. This estimate of blood alcohol is not |
| accurate estimate of your blood alcohol level. This | | | | intended to represent your actual driving abilities. |
| personal device is similar to, although not as | | | | Your driving may be impaired even with a low |
| precise as, the type of test given by police for | | | | BAC level, such as below 0.05. |
| suspected drunk drivers. | | | | The breath alcohol test offers only one piece of |
| Within minutes of drinking alcohol, your blood | | | | information to help you make a safe decision |
| alcohol concentration starts to rise. Unlike food, | | | | about drinking and driving. The safest decision is |
| alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of | | | | always to not drive if you have been drinking. |
| the stomach, goes into the bloodstream, and | | | | Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is commonly |
| travels throughout your body and to your brain. | | | | used by police and other legal authorities to |
| This allows blood alcohol levels to increase quickly. | | | | determine whether a person is legally impaired and |
| The amount of alcohol in your blood reaches its | | | | should not drive. A blood alcohol concentration in |
| highest level about 60 minutes after drinking. | | | | the range of 0.05 to 0.10 is considered legally |
| However, food in your stomach may increase the | | | | impaired throughout most of the United States. |
| amount of time it takes for the blood alcohol to | | | | However, legal BAC levels vary from state to |
| reach its highest level. Most of the alcohol is | | | | state. |
| broken down in the liver. The rest of it is passed | | | | Driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) can |
| out of your body in urine and your exhaled | | | | have fatal results. Alcohol is involved in almost half |
| breath. You can buy breath alcohol devices to | | | | of all deadly highway accidents. All it takes is one |
| measure your breath alcohol concentration at | | | | drink to possibly impair your ability to drive safely. |
| many pharmacies or through the Internet. | | | | At 0.06 BAC, your judgment and physical |
| The manual appliance is a glass tube (or a balloon | | | | coordination are impaired. At a BAC of 0.08, your |
| and a glass tube) that contains color changing | | | | muscle coordination and driving ability are |
| crystals activated when exposed to alcohol from | | | | significantly impaired. |
| your breath. This device is easier and less | | | | Having any amount of alcohol in your blood can |
| expensive than electronic meters. | | | | mean that judgment and reflexes will be impaired. |
| The electronic meter shows your blood alcohol | | | | You can purchase breath alcohol tests on the |
| concentration (BAC) percentage in a digital display | | | | Internet, either directly from the manufacturer or |
| window after you blow into a glass mouthpiece | | | | from a company that sells this kind of product. |
| attached to the meter. This type of meter is | | | | To find a vendor simply do an internet search for |
| more expensive than the manual type. | | | | the type of test or the name of the |
| Many bars and restaurants provide their | | | | manufacturer. |