Gizmodo: breathalyzers

Car Breathalyzer Mistakes Ice Cream for Alcohol, Doesn't Let Man Drive Home

Adrian Covert — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:00:00 EST

You may want to hand your keys over after a pint of Ben and Jerry's, because in Australia, a man's car breathalyzer refused to start his engine after he ate an Ice Cream Bar.

UPI reports that the unidentified man, who lives in Frankston, Australia, claims he ate Bubble O'Bill ice cream (pictured above), right before blowing into the breathalyzer, which caused the false positive. Afterwards went before a court asking to have the breathalyzer removed from his car.

The court decided to verify the error with a second test. Without eating the Ice Cream, the man's BAC was .0000. Immediately after taking two bites, it was .0018. The man got his wish, and the breathalyzer was removed. But the larger cause for concern here is what he did to get stuck with the breathalyzer in the first place? And what will he do now that he's no longer shackled to the buzz killer? [UPI via Tech Dirt via Prefix Forums]

Alcohawk Professional Grade Breathalyzer

Travis Hudson — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 15:26:30 EST

Digital breathalyzers aren't new by any means, but with the biggest drinking holiday merely a week away (New Years, dummies) it is important to remind anyone that plans on consuming this coming week to carry around one of these handy devices. This isn't one of those cheap one-time-use breathalyzers that you can pick up at the gas station—this is the real deal. The Alcohawk is an ABI professional grade breathalyzer. Giver it a little blow and find out if you should be handing the keys off tonight. Stay safe, kiddos. – Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via Uncrate]

The Only Pen a Drunk Could Ask For

Gizloco — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 13:50:26 EST

So you re at your favorite sports bar watching the big game with your friends. Before heading out and driving home, perhaps it d be a good idea to make sure you re not legally intoxicated. At this point, it s just a matter of whipping out the Alcohol Breath Test Pen, blowing into the top and hoping that the green LED doesn t turn red. If it s red, hail a taxi, buddy, because you re in no condition to drive. Also included in the pen is a UV indicator, letting you know whether or not you should be wearing sunscreen. Yes, this $35 little pen can help save your life and prevent a nasty sunburn.

Alcohol Breath Test Pen [Gadget Review]

Product Page [BoysStuff]