What are breathalysers?

Used by police, and now in business for health & safety.

A breathalyzer or breathalyser is a device that estimates the blood alcohol content (BAC) from a sample of someones breath. Breathalyzer is the name for the instrument that tests the alcohol level developed back in 1954 originally.

The calculation is done through measuring a small proportion of alcohol that the body excretes through the lungs. BAC is approximately 2,300 times breath alcohol concentration, although there is some variation among individuals of different size, weight and health conditions. Breath analysis machines use methods such as thermal conductivity and infrared absorption to detect alcohol in the air exhaled from the lungs. Since breath alcohol analysis is quick and non-invasive, it is a useful tool in a variety of situations mainly that of police alcohol stop points and in commercial use like Alco-lock systems for vehicles. A number of models—both portable and fixed ones—are available, browse the range here.