Breathalyzer - Self Test Devices

Let me say right away - drinking and driving is both stupid and dangerous. Don't do it. If in doubt, don't drive.

However, there may be some instances where you are uncertain about whether or not you are fit to drive. For example, if you've been at a social event the night before and perhaps been having a few drinks into the early hours of the morning then, although you may feel safe to drive when you get up in the morning, it's still possible that you may find yourself over the legal limit.

Alternatively, if you've had a couple of glasses of wine at a business lunch, you may still be above the limit when it comes time to drive home at the end of the working day.

Simply put, if you have any doubt about your ability to drive then don't. You could lose your licence, your job and even your life. You may also be a danger to other road users and pedestrians.

If you want to be 100% certain that you're fit to drive then you can take advantage of modern technology. Alcohol breath testers, of the type used by most police forces these days, are now readily available at very reasonable prices.

These are generally small enough to be portable and are accurate enough to confirm your ability to drive or operate machinery.

Prices start from just a few dollars for small portable devices, you can even get keychain devices. Even larger, more industrial devices, suitable for multiple users, possibly in a business environment - are relatively cheap. In any event, most of these devices represent a very small price to pay for peace of mind.

Sometimes you have one drink and feel quite woozy. Other times you can drink all night and you still feel perfectly fine. Why is that?

There are a number of factors that can have an effect on your own personal reaction to alcohol and how much it can impair you at any particular time. Things like your body weight can have a big effect - obviously smaller individuals will be more affected by alcohol than larger ones.

Your general health and even your mood can also have a bearing on your ability to process alcohol. How long it's been since your last meal is also important - drinking on an empty stomach is a recipe for disaster.

Your general health is another strong influence - if you're feeling tired or run down then you will tend to get drunk much faster.

Of course, alcohol impairs your judgement - so even if you try to be aware of how your reacting to it, you may not be in any position to form an opinion. A home breathalyzer will remove any doubt.