Breathalyzer facts for kids

A breathalyzer is a special device. It measures how much alcohol is in a person's breath. This measurement is called BrAC, which stands for Breath Alcohol Content. Police officers often use these devices. They help check if someone has alcohol in their system. The name "Breathalyzer" comes from combining "breath" and "analyzer." It was originally a brand name for devices made by Robert Frank Borkenstein in the 1950s.

How Did Breathalyzers Start?

People have been interested in testing breath for alcohol for a long time. As far back as 1874, a scientist named Francis E. Anstie noticed something important. He saw that tiny amounts of alcohol left the body through breath.

In 1927, Emil Bogen wrote about analyzing breath. He collected air in a football bladder. Then, he tested this air for alcohol. He found that the alcohol in two liters of breath was a bit more than in one cubic centimeter of urine. Also in 1927, William Duncan McNally invented a breathalyzer. His device used chemicals in water that changed color when breath passed through them.

In 1931, the first practical device for testing breath by the roadside appeared. It was called the "drunkometer." Rolla Neil Harger from Indiana University developed it. The drunkometer collected a breath sample in a balloon inside the machine. This sample then went through a special purple liquid. If alcohol was in the breath, the liquid changed color. More color change meant more alcohol.

In 1954, Robert Frank Borkenstein created his famous "Breathalyzer." He was a police captain and later a professor. His device used chemicals and light to figure out alcohol levels. The Breathalyzer gave police a fast and easy way to test for alcohol.

Later, in 1967, Bill Ducie and Tom Parry Jones in Britain made the first electronic breathalyzer. They started a company called Lion Laboratories. Their devices helped police enforce new rules about alcohol and driving. Over time, these devices became more advanced. They used fuel cell sensors, which were more reliable.

How Do Breathalyzers Work?

Breathalyzers do not directly measure the alcohol in your blood. To do that, you need a blood sample. Instead, they measure the amount of alcohol in your breath. This is usually shown as milligrams of alcohol per liter of breath. The connection between the alcohol in your breath and the alcohol in your blood can be tricky. Many things can affect this measurement.

Can You Trick a Breathalyzer?

Many people wonder if there are ways to "fool" a breathalyzer. They hope to make it show a lower alcohol reading. But most of these ideas are just myths.

The TV show MythBusters tested many of these ideas in 2003. They tried breath mints, onions, denture cream, mouthwash, pennies, and batteries. None of these methods worked. The show explained that these items might hide the smell of alcohol. But they do not actually lower the alcohol in your breath. So, they won't change the breathalyzer's reading. In fact, using mouthwash actually made the alcohol reading higher!

The MythBusters also pointed out something important. You would have to put these items in your mouth without the police officer noticing. This would be very hard to do, especially if someone had alcohol in their system.

Also, breath tests are often double-checked with blood tests. Blood tests are much more accurate. Even if someone could somehow trick a breath test, a blood test would still show the true alcohol level. Other TV shows, like Manswers, have also shown that these tricks do not work.

Breathalyzers and Law Enforcement

Police use two main types of breathalyzers.

• Hand-held devices: These are small and easy to carry. Police officers use them on the spot. They help officers decide if someone might have alcohol in their system. These devices are good for a quick check.
• Larger devices: These are usually found at police stations. They are more accurate and can be used to provide evidence in court. These machines often use advanced technology. They might use infrared light or special fuel cells to measure alcohol.

In the United States, all breath alcohol testers used by police must be approved. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) checks and approves these devices.

Images for kids

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  A US Transportation Systems Center staff member shows a breathalyzer in 1972.

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  A person showing a breathalyzer in the Netherlands in 1974.