BAC - An Experiment

[dave vino]

Thought this might be a good community service type post...

Got a new toy, as I'd been worrying about my alc consumption and driving, with all the bottles and small pours/spits/food I was starting to really doubt my ability to 'know' how much I'd had. I have been pulled over when driving home a car load of people and managed to pass (with a bit of concern I believe from the Police so I must have been close).

So after getting a German Drager Personal Breathalyser (fuel cell based) which is Australian Standard AS3547 Certified. I decided to do an experiment.

I drank a bottle of 2014 Bowen Estate Shiraz at 14.5% (8.6std drinks) over about 3 hours (don't try this at home kids, I'm a professional).

I had a Bacon sarnie for dinner, some ice cream and a few chocolates while drinking it, listening to a U2 Concert in Boston (as you do and singing along...badly). I didn't really get up and do anything like a normal tasting and was eating bits and pieces.

Now I feel a lot more drunker than I would at a tasting, if I felt like I do now I wouldn't drive, I'd just sit in the car and wait it out...but..maybe not?

I finished the bottle at 10pm and then had a slash and drank some water and rinsed my mouth out.

[img]http://www.grapemates.org/files/Misc/IMG_2233.JPG[/img]

10.15pm std 15mins after last drink test OK to drive apparently

[img]http://www.grapemates.org/files/Misc/IMG_2235.JPG[/img]

10.30pm 30mins after last drink

[img]http://www.grapemates.org/files/Misc/IMG_2236.JPG[/img]

11pm 60mins after last drink

[img]http://www.grapemates.org/files/Misc/IMG_2237.JPG[/img]

11.30pm 90mins after last drink

[img]http://www.grapemates.org/files/Misc/IMG_2238.JPG[/img]

So a better test of my level would probably be 30-60mins after my last drink, but if I can get to where I need to be within 30mins I am 'ok' which is strange. As I felt really drunk, very confident (like I might even get up and dance confident - which I never do ) which is a big no-no when on the road i.e drunk confidence. So remember even though you may think you are OK to drive, the absorption is an ongoing thing that you need to be aware of.

Be safe, get Uber/Taxi/Hotel.

PS The Bowen Estate is a really nice drop, they do a classic Coonawarra Shiraz which is really easy to drink. Nice acid and balance without the bloated flavours you get sometimes in the Barossa.

EDIT: Next morning, no breakfast

[img]http://www.grapemates.org/files/Misc/IMG_2239.JPG[/img]

[TiggerK]

Very interesting Dave, thanks for the report and for taking a bottle for the team in pursuit of knowledge.

The rising levels during the hour after you stopped drinking were an eye opener. I assume the liver keeps up the pace for a while, then reaches saturation and the absorption rate slows down. Also interesting to see 0% the next morning. Cheers.

[Ozzie W]

The rising levels during the hour after you stopped drinking were an eye opener. I assume the liver keeps up the pace for a while, then reaches saturation and the absorption rate slows down.

+1

This really surprised me too. Makes sense when you think about it, but not something I would have considered until now.

[Hunter]

Hi dave what are they worth?
Cheers

[dave vino]

$299
https://blowmefirst.com.au/products/breath-t ... fuel-cell/

[JamieBahrain]

I did a lot of work on this front for pilots union where 0% BAC required .

A pilot could drink a bottle of red wine 10 hours prior to duty and be BAC 0. The trouble is, the hangover hits just as the body clears the alcohol. Hangovers offer unquantifiable impairment .

[JamieBahrain]

Water disrupts the device as well. When we get tested there’s a waiting period .

Try it out . Blow 0.05 then have a mouthful of water and slush it about

[Dragzworthy]

This is perhaps one of the best posts I’ve seen on this forum... really appreciate the input and the time you’ve taken to document this.
Living in Singapore where cars are expensive (and taxis cheap), I don’t have much of a concern in this space but I’m pretty sure I came close last time I drove in Melbourne when back after I was pulled up at Albert Park Lake for a random breath test... scared me sideways

[Polymer]

Dave - Gotta bring this to the next offline .

[JamieBahrain]

Just further, water disrupts the device as does blowing undigested pieces of souvlaki into the mouthpiece when pissed at 2am.

One massive caveat is calibration. Unsure of Dave's device but the one we recommended requires yearly return to the USA. I've sat with a mate after a few nice glasses, personal devices in hand, and he blew 0.06 on his and I blew 0. The euphoria of a few drinks had me confident in my super fitness to process alcohol. Alas, I tried his device and blew 0.05. A very real trap! My device needed calibration!

[Scotty vino]

Jason had a pocket Breathalyser at the Ade offline. Looked like the same one from memory.
Some interesting results...

[dave vino]

Just further, water disrupts the device as does blowing undigested pieces of souvlaki into the mouthpiece when pissed at 2am.

One massive caveat is calibration. Unsure of Dave's device but the one we recommended requires yearly return to the USA. I've sat with a mate after a few nice glasses, personal devices in hand, and he blew 0.06 on his and I blew 0. The euphoria of a few drinks had me confident in my super fitness to process alcohol. Alas, I tried his device and blew 0.05. A very real trap! My device needed calibration!

Yep, needs to be done every 12mths. Store down the road does it for about $20 I think. Mine is brand new so should be good for now.

Have a tasting tonight so will give it a test run. (and I've only got the 1 mouthpiece so no competitions amongst those taxi/train-ing it )

[Cactus]

My brother IL had one we used at Christmas. All day steady drinking of wine, beer and weak cocktails had me finishong at .06. I thought i would be a lot higher. Didnt feel right to drive and of course legally wasnt but was surprised how close i was. Of course I was eating all day and Im a 95kg fella.

[Bobthebuilder]

I’m reading this on the train to the same tasting, and was glad to see the machine is coming too!