You might have heard about breathalyzer tests, which are used to check if someone has been drinking alcohol. They are especially important for people who want to start driving again after getting charged for drinking and driving. But have you ever wondered how long a breathalyzer can tell if someone has had alcohol? The short answer? It depends on a lot of things, but typically a breathalyzer can detect if someone has had alcohol in the last 12-24 hours. In this article, we’ll dive into how breathalyzers work, how they figure out if alcohol is present, and what factors can affect how long they can detect alcohol in a person’s breath.
How Breathalyzers Work
Breathalyzers check for alcohol in a person’s breath, measuring their Breath Alcohol Content (BrAC). They give an idea of the current blood alcohol level without actually drawing their blood. Smart Start uses this technology in our Interlock Devices and portable breathalyzers.
When a person drinks alcohol, it goes into their blood and then into their lungs. When they breathe out, the breathalyzer measures the alcohol level in their breath. With fuel cell sensors, alcohol goes through a special change, making electricity that shows how much alcohol is there. With infrared spectroscopy, the sensor uses light to measure the alcohol. The microprocessor takes the sensor’s data and converts it into its Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) value.
How Long a Breathalyzer Can Detect Alcohol
A breathalyzer can tell if someone has been drinking an alcoholic beverage for a certain amount of time after they’ve had a drink. This time can change depending on many things. How fast a person’s body works, the kind of alcoholic beverage they drink, and even things like how much they weigh or how healthy they are can make a difference. Usually, a breathalyzer can tell if someone had alcohol in the past 12 to 24 hours. But remember, this can change from person to person.
How Accurate Are Breathalyzers?
Breathalyzers are great at detecting alcohol in a person’s breath. However, the answer to “how accurate are breathalyzers” will depend on regular breathalyzer calibration and maintenance. These devices are fine-tuned for accuracy through calibration, a process Smart Start’s car breathalyzers undergo every 30-90 days, depending on state regulations.
Since breathalyzers are designed to detect alcohol in someone’s breath, it is possible that if you have residue from something like mouthwash left in your mouth, the breathalyzer will detect the alcohol and give you a positive alcohol breath test reading. We recommend you rinse your mouth out with water before every breath alcohol test to make sure there is no food residue.
Individual differences in metabolism and body composition can also impact breathalyzer results. Weather and environmental factors can also have a minor impact on results, however, Smart Start’s breathalyzers are designed to minimize these effects and provide reliable alcohol breath test readings.
Things That Affect How Long a Breathalyzer Can Detect Alcohol
There are a few different things that can affect how long a breathalyzer can detect alcohol in your system:
Type of Drink: Different drinks have different amounts of alcohol. Drinks with more alcohol take longer to leave the body.
Body Type: How much someone weighs and how their body is built can change how alcohol is spread in their body.
Food: If someone eats food before or while they drink, it can take alcohol longer to reach the blood and show up on the breathalyzer.
Health and Hydration: Being healthy and drinking enough water can affect how the body processes alcohol. Being dehydrated might show a higher breathalyzer result.
Genes: Our genes play a part in how our body deals with alcohol. Some people’s bodies process it faster, while others take more time.
Age and Gender: Age and gender can also change how fast alcohol leaves the body, since metabolism differs.
Why Breathalyzer Results Might Be Different
Even though breathalyzers are usually right, sometimes the results can be different because of a few things. When the breath sample is collected, how much alcohol someone drank, the type of alcohol someone drank, and even how someone breathes can make a difference. It’s important to know about how breathalyzers work and why results might be different for different people to understand how to pass a breathalyzer test. Overall, breathalyzers are great tools and Smart Start’s devices are designed to be accurate and easy to use.
Why Choose Smart Start as your Breathalyzer Provider
People who have been charged with drinking and driving sometimes need special devices, called Ignition Interlock Devices, to start their cars. Breathalyzers determine if someone has alcohol in their system before they can drive. This helps people who have been charged with a DUI show that they can drive safely and keep their driving privileges.
Smart Start takes breathalyzer technology to the next level. For over 30 years as a leading provider of car breathalyzers (Ignition Interlock Devices) and Portable Alcohol Monitoring Devices, we have used state-of-the-art breathalyzer technology to prevent drunk driving incidents. Our sleek and discreet devices provide accurate Breath Alcohol Content (BrAC) readings, helping over 1 million clients stay in compliance for any requirements they may have for keeping their driving privileges.
Do you need an Ignition Interlock Device or a Portable Alcohol Monitoring Device? Our trusted expert Program Advisors can help you get started with just one call at (800) 831-3299. Can’t call right now? Fill out our simple online form and our Program Advisors will give you a call back.
How Long Can a Breathalyzer Detect Alcohol: Key Takeaways
In the end, breathalyzer tests are important because they tell if someone has had alcohol recently. This is usually about 12 to 24 hours. But this can change depending on the person and other things. Breathalyzer results can vary from person to person based on the type of alcohol they drink, their body type, if they’ve eaten food, how healthy and hydrated they are, their genes, age, and gender. Smart Start uses state of the art technology in all our breathalyzers, so choose Smart Start if you need an Ignition Interlock or Portable Alcohol Monitoring Device.
Sources:
- Medical News Today. (2022). How long do breathalyzers detect alcohol?. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-long-does-a-breathalyzer-detect-alcohol
- Berger, A. (2002). How does it work?: Alcohol breath testing. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.325.7377.1403
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2023). 2.3 Breath Test Devices. https://www.nhtsa.gov/book/countermeasures/deterrence/23-breath-test-devices
