Q3 Innovations AlcoHAWK Slim Breath Alcohol Testing Device

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Judie Hughes

April 11, 2006

Before I begin this review, I will state for the record that I realize I am not your mother; it is not my job to judge you or your drinking habits. So with that said...

Assuming that one is above the legal drinking age, I think that it is perfectly acceptable to enjoy a few drinks with friends in each other's homes, and I can understand wanting to blow off steam after a hard day's work by going out and having a couple beers with the gang. I would never think less of a friend for having "a few too many" while playing cards or watching a game, and I know for a fact that live music really does sound better once I've had a drink. But because I am a mom, I have to say that when the end of the evening rolls around and someone I know is acting like they may have had a little bit too much to drink, the only correct choice to be made is whether I should drive them home or call a cab. The one thing that none of us should ever have to live with is the guilt of knowing that we might have been able to do something to stop someone we cared about from driving while intoxicated.

Driving While Intoxicated, or DWI as it is commonly called, appears to be a huge problem in Texas. I don't know if it is just because our state is so big or because Texans are a bunch of boozehounds, but - no pun intended - the statistics are sobering. According to a report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the year 2004 there were 3,583 people killed in alcohol-related crashes in Texas, the second highest death rate in the country behind California. Of the 3,583 alcohol-related crash fatalities in Texas, 41% that died had been drinking; 59% had not been drinking at all. In other words, people that drive under the influence are not just putting themselves in danger, they are a menace to innocent drivers and passengers.

In the United States, a Blood Alcohol Content, or BAC, of 0.08 is considered legally drunk. Wikipedia defines BAC as the "concentration of alcohol in blood, measured by volume, as a percentage." As an example, Wikipedia states that having a 0.20 BAC would therefore mean that one part per 500 in an individual's blood was alcohol. Interestingly enough, drawing blood is not the only way to measure for BAC. According to the aptly named website, R U PISSED, "Alcohol that a person drinks shows up in the breath because it gets absorbed from the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines into the bloodstream. Alcohol is not digested upon absorption or chemically changed in the bloodstream. As the blood goes through the lungs, a physiologically predictable amount of the alcohol will moves across the lung membranes and into the lungs themselves. Once in contact with the air in the lungs, it evaporates and is exhaled. The concentration of the alcohol in the air in the lungs is directly related to the concentration of the alcohol in the blood. The ratio of breath alcohol to blood alcohol is 2,100 to 1 (and called the partition ratio), so the alcohol content of 2,100 milliliters of exhaled air will be the same as for 1 milliliter of blood. The maths are simple from there and leads to blood alcohol readings expressed as a percentage of alcohol in the blood." So in other words, with the proper type of measurement device, it is possible to determine someone's Blood Alcohol Content by the air that they exhale.

If a person has been drinking and they are pulled over for any reason, a chain of events are set in motion that are almost impossible to stop. Most people have heard of the "Breathalyzer Test" that police will sometimes perform on those suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol. Although these breath tests are generally not admissible in court, they are a very valuable tool when used by law enforcement to determine a person's degree of impairment. While there are no criminal sanctions in the State of Texas for refusing to submit to a breath test, there are other serious repercussions.

I spoke with my good friend Grabb, a deputy with the Tom Green County Sheriff's Department today, to ask about what happens when someone is pulled over and the officer suspects a possible DWI. I'm talking about a simple traffic stop, that doesn't involve any accident or harrowing drama. In San Angelo, if an officer suspects that the person they have pulled over has been drinking and the subject refuses to submit a breath test, the result is a guaranteed arrest for DWI and a trip to jail. During the arrest, the officer will confiscate the suspect's driver's license.

After several hours of sitting and waiting at the jail, in order to leave a bond of $500 or more must be posted. While the defendant is posting bond and getting their court date, the DPS will begin the process of revoking their driver's license. If this is the driver's only drug or alcohol offence in the last ten years, their license will automatically be suspended for 90 days. If a person's record shows any other drug or alcohol related enforcement contact during the previous ten years, their license will automatically be suspended for a year. Remember, this is just for refusing to take the breath test - no formal charges have yet been filed and the person has not been found guilty of anything.

If the person's license is suspended and they have to be able to drive in order to work, an occupational license is available for first time offenders. The privilege of getting this special license is a surcharge of $3,000, broken into three yearly payments of $1000.

A court date will be set, and should the defendant be found guilty they will owe the $320 court fee. On top of the court and bond fees, DPS/State of Texas surcharges, the towing of the vehicle, the probationary costs, the community service hours, the MADD review board humiliation, the psychological evaluation, the additional auto insurance fees, the possible job loss, and the stigma of having one's name posted in the local paper, if a lawyer is retained there will be additional fees of around $5,000.

I had no idea...!

I was also surprised to learn that even though 0.08 is the legal limit, that number isn't always firm. If an officer pulls a driver over for a possible DWI and the suspect submits to a breath test, blowing above a 0.01 but below a 0.08, they can still be arrested for DWI if the officer believes that the vehicle operator is impaired to a point where he is a danger to himself or the public.

All of this misery, embarrassment and expense can be avoided by never drinking and driving...and yet people still do it. Many of them are average, otherwise respectable people - moms, dads, neighbors and bosses. I suspect that quite a few are under the impression that even after a few drinks and a slight buzz, they will be "fine to drive" because there is no way that they could possibly be drunk, because they don't do that sort of thing. These people don't understand that as few as two or three drinks in an hour can put them over the legal limit, and that the tipsy feeling they are enjoying is an indication of their impairment. They might even be insulted if told that they shouldn't drive because they had had too much to drink; but if you could show them that they had had too much, these same people would probably be horrified to realize that they had even contemplated driving.

Those are the people that I think would most be influenced by a product such as the one I will be talking about today, one of the Q3 Innovations AlcoHAWK Series of alcohol testing devices. Q3 Innovations offers five different models of AlcoHAWKs, for this review I was sent the AlcoHAWK Slim. Included in the standard package are the AlcoHAWK Slim, gift box, mesh carrying bag, three mouthpieces, owner's manual, quick start guide, and a one-year warranty. The device needs two AA batteries, which are not included.

Specifications:

Measuring approximately 5" tall x 1.75" wide x 0.75" thick, the device weighs only 3.6 ounces and is easily pocketable. Although the AlcoHAWK Slim is composed of silver plastic and it doesn't weigh very much, in hand it feels solid enough. The case does not flex or creak when torqued and squeezed, and there is just a slight interior rattle when it is shaken. Three air vents are located on the top front edge, directly above a semi-opaque black plastic window covering the three character red LCD display. Under the display is a lone black button.

The back has a single tone speaker and the battery compartment.

A folding mouthpiece on the left side of the device flips up, ready for the user's lips.

According to the AlcoHAWK's user manual, "The device contains a sensor chip designed to test for the presence of alcohol. A thick film heater is printed on the reverse of the chip placed in the plastic housing. The metal oxide material is heated to a specific temperature. The resistance of sensing material changes rapidly according to gas concentration changes, thereby enabling the reading of alcohol concentration by resistance measurement. This alcohol concentration is directly related to the concentration of alcohol in the blood. Therefore this device can give a reading that reflects an estimate of the concentration of alcohol in the blood."

Getting a reading from the AlcoHAWK is relatively simple...

If the device hasn't been used in over 24 hours, then the sensor should be primed by blowing into the mouthpiece for four or five seconds and then turning on the device. One should always wait at least 20 minutes after smoking, eating or drinking before using the tester. According to the manual. "failure to do so can alter the BAC reading and damage the sensor."

Pressing the button on the front of the device initiates a sixty second countdown readying the interior components for the upcoming test breath.

The unit is ready when a beep sounds and a solidly glowing decimal point is displayed.

Once the beep is heard and the decimal is displayed, the user should "take a deep breath and blow steadily (for at least five seconds) until a beep sounds to signal completion of the testing. As can be seen here, I am blowing a 0.00.

I am obviously safe to drive at the moment.

During the Basketball playoffs, one of my good friends came over to watch the Florida vs. George Mason game with Steve and me. I made buffalo chicken wings and potato salad, and she brought two bottles of wine. Over the next four or so hours we ate, drank, and watched as Florida did their thing. When it was all over Florida had won, the chicken and potato salad were gone, and she and I had finished the two bottles of wine. Even though we had spread our drinking over several hours and even though we were not drinking on empty stomachs I was still feeling a little light headed. Well no wonder, because according to the AlcoHAWK my BAC was 0.03.

According to the AlcoHAWK manual, at 0.03 BAC, there is "generally no loss of coordination, slight euphoria or loss of shyness," and the "depressant effects [of alcohol] are not apparent." Interestingly enough, I was also feeling some of the next level of intoxication's symptoms, including relaxation and the sensation of warmth.

²Bailey, William J., Drug Use in American Society, 3rd ed., Minneapolis: Burgess, 1993.
³Some individuals may experience impairment at BAC levels of 0.03% or even lower.

For those that wonder at what BAC level it is "safe to drive", here is a helpful chart...

Well, it looks like if you are going to drink at all, then you shouldn't drive at all. But then, we already knew that, right?!

In my opinion, the desired effect of using this device would be that the person tested could see that they were blowing an alcohol reading period, and that driving in their present condition would not be a good idea.

Even though the AlcoHAWK's manual includes the warning to not "use this device as a tool to determine whether you or anyone else should operate any motor vehicle or machinery," the fact is that there will be those that use it the justification for their supposed sobriety. These will be the people that drink a couple of beers in 30 minutes, blow a 0.04 and then stumble to their car confident that they are totally fine. I doubt that this or any type device would have the desired effect on that particular type person.

Of course, if someone thinks that they had better test their BAC to make sure that they are "okay" to drive, then in my opinion they have no business driving. If I feel the need to test a boy before he takes my daughter on a date, then he is not someone that I would want dating my daughter. If one of the workers at the ranch gave me reason to believe that I should test him before allowing him to drive a ranch vehicle, then it would be time to reconsider his employment. If I felt the need to test my daughter after she came home from a friend's party, then it would be time for me to reconsider my daughter's and my communication as well as her choice of friends.

I guess in an ideal world, it wouldn't take an $80 device to remind people that they have no business driving after they've been drinking. But if an $80 device is able to accomplish what thousands of dollars in fines, mandatory community service and social stigma can't, then I would consider it money well spent.

Click here to read the owner's manual online.

Discussion (1 comment)

inultus
02/15/08
10:18 AM

I really can't stand self-righteous people who say that if we drink AT ALL that we shouldn't be driving.

Speak for yourself. If I have one drink I am fine to drive, and there is nothing wrong with using something like the Alcohawk to make sure that I won't be going to jail.

You say that it might give people a FALSE sense of security about driving. Well, that may be true in some cases. However, if I was the one using it, I wouldn't be using it to see whether I'm capable of driving ok or not, I would simply be using it to check and make sure I'm not going to have any legal issues with dirving.

That is the whole point of owning one! I completely disagree that drinking AT ALL means one should not be driving.