Breathalyzer Machines

Breathalyzer machines come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and capabilities. Just watch COPS or you're favorite police television program and you'll probably get a fairly accurate idea of what they look like. The cops out on the street obviously have the small handheld type that are great for on the spot breathalyzer results, and larger units are usually kept either at the police station or at the county jail for more precise readings. Some charity organizations that work with sufferers of alcoholism might have one of the larger units on hand as well, but most general consumers would more likely be interested in the portable types of breathalyzers.

You can purchase a small, compact breathalyzer machine that actually attaches to a key chain, but most of these are unreliable, poorly constructed, and made from inferior components. There are others that are a bit larger that are more suited to being stored in a desk drawer or a cabinet, but while very accurate these breathalyzers can be expensive and cumbersome if your intention is to use the device only occasionally. The best breathalyzer machine for casual consumer use is the one that fits easily into a purse or a back pocket, and this type of device is reasonably compact without sacrificing reliability and sturdy construction. You can pick up a compact, reliable breathalyzer machine for somewhere in the $35 to $60 range and remain confident in the results you will get from your device. AlcoHawk, AlcoMate, and BACTrack are some of the more well-known, reliable manufacturers of breathalyzer machines, and you can purchase a quality device from any one of these companies.

With any device, you are going to wait a certain amount of time while the machine clears itself and prepares for a reading. Some devices are ready within five seconds, while other cheaper devices claim to take approximately 60 seconds to warm up when in reality you'll find yourself waiting for several minutes. In most cases where you would have to use a breathalyzer for any reason, time is not on your side and the person delivering a sample may not be totally cooperative (alcohol is involved to begin with). So the less time you have to wait to gather a sample from the intoxicated person the better and safer it is for everyone involved. If you are using a device for your own personal use, you may not want the hassle of a lengthy warm-up period, so why bother with this added headache. Keep in mind that no matter what device you go with, all breathalyzers need re-calibration at some point in time. This means mailing the unit to the manufacturer and paying a small fee - usually less than $20. The greater quality device you purchase the less often it will require re-calibration.

There are many benefits of using a breathalyzer machine during any situation whenever alcohol is involved, safety being number one on the list, but using a breathalyzer machine may in fact help you with cutting back on your alcohol consumption. Think about it. Those of us who do choose to drink usually rely on our own sense of intoxication to let us know when enough is enough, but if you had a reliable personal breathalyzer on hand you would know without a doubt when you've had enough. Besides, over consumption of alcohol on a regular basis or even "binge" drinking is pretty hard on your body, so checking your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) while you're drinking may serve as a sort of yard stick for yourself. Its kind of like counting calories - when you count calories you tend to eat less. When you check your BAC while consuming alcohol, you will probably tend to drink less. At the very least, you will be safer and you may even feel better in the morning.