Feedback on Professional Portable Alcohol Tester (LN5894)

[Workaholic]

I was wondering if anyone had bought these?
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...roductID=81449

I added 2 to my last order when it was on TO and the first few times I used them they shown a reading of the highest level saying that I was heavily intoxidicated with alcohol (and of course shouldn't drive etc) but I have not been drinking for a week now....

Next few times it gave me better readings of safe to drive.....

So does anyone have the same problem or is it a result of "bad breath" - i.e. should I take a mint before using it?

[muddyfox470]

lol i havent actually tried it properly yet. i just bought one for a bit of 'fun' with ma mates.

the instructions arent overly clear as to how to work the thing, i.e. when to blow etc.

will let you know when we get intoxicated!

ian

[Workaholic]

lol i havent actually tried it properly yet. i just bought one for a bit of 'fun' with ma mates.

the instructions arent overly clear as to how to work the thing, i.e. when to blow etc.

will let you know when we get intoxicated!

ian

The say I see it, the instructions are
1) hold onto the larger button for 2 seconds.
2) Watch the colourful display of leds lighting in sequence.
3) Blow into the mic style hole at a distance of 1-3cm
4) Read how drunk you are!

[Lexeus]

I got one for my mate for his birthday and they arent that great. They seemed ok to start with but kater in the evening it said that it was perfectly safe to drive when we had had pints upon pints upon pints
I think maybe it was messed up by all the cigurette smoke in the pub though, as i takes an initial background reading and then compares that to when you breathe into it as i understand it, which would make sense if the background reading is smoke.
Just a bit of a joke really lol

[Nitestorm]

I'm not sure how accurate they are. Got given a cheap one at xmas and even after holding down the button to let it settle, it sometimes gives a false postive.

[muddyfox470]

used one one night. said my mate was fully drunk after rinsing his mouth out with mouth wash.

and then into the drink stages (you have to blow when you havent just 'had' alcohol) but over the night each individuals readings were going down as the night went on :s

Ian

[Moby-Dick]

not especially accurate ( I think minde was a freebie ) but should carry a warningo f not to be used for competetive use

[Lexeus]

over the night each individuals readings were going down as the night went on :s

Ian

yea, thats what i noticed too, thats why i put it down to maybe smoke messing up the initial background reading

[muddyfox470]

i just bought it for a bit of fun anyway, i wouldnt rely on these things anyway.

just common sense really, drink but dont drive and vice versa.

ian

[Moby-Dick]

they are a good ice breaker at parties

[FatalSaviour]

used one one night. said my mate was fully drunk after rinsing his mouth out with mouth wash.

and then into the drink stages (you have to blow when you havent just 'had' alcohol) but over the night each individuals readings were going down as the night went on :s

Ian

As an Oxford chemistry student having nothing better to do one evening, I remember reading an article on gas chromatography. It turns out that many mouthwashes contain alcohol, although this varies widely across the board...anyway, some mouthwashes (List. Cool Mint) was found to contain up to 25% alcohol in it....This could be why your mate was "drunk" and why you should NEVER use mouthwash to try and disguise whether or not you've been drinking if you get pulled over by the police