Can coffee set off a breathalyzer?

Summary of the Article

Does coffee show up on breathalyzer? While it might come as a surprise, the over-consumption of caffeine could trigger a false positive on a breathalyzer test. It has been well-established that certain medications and substances can also cause false positives for BAC in breath testing, such as asthma medications, Nyquil and OTC medications with alcohol, Anbesol in oral gels, mouthwash and breath spray, fumes, gastroesophageal acid reflux, and ketones. Contrary to popular belief, drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, or eating a large meal does not prevent breathalyzer sensors from detecting alcohol in your system. Caffeine itself does not affect your BAC or reduce impairment due to alcohol consumption. Other factors that can give false positive results on a breathalyzer include acid caused by heartburn or acid reflux, breathing with short breaths into the device, and even certain foods. It takes about four to five drinks to reach a BAC of 0.08 percent, and there are various ways to temporarily mask alcohol breath, such as brushing your teeth, using mouthwash, drinking water, eating something, using a breath spray, sucking on mints or candies. If you have an interlock device, you should avoid spicy foods, sugary foods (especially those containing yeast), fruit and fruit drinks, vinegar, energy drinks, vanilla extract, mouthwash, and breath spray. Besides alcohol, other factors that can raise your BAC include diet drinks, ketones, certain medications, mouthwash and breath sprays, and paint fumes. Carbonated drinks can also increase the rate at which alcohol passes through your stomach, resulting in a higher BAC.

Questions and Answers

1. Can coffee set off a breathalyzer?
   While it might come as a surprise, the over-consumption of caffeine could trigger a false positive on a breathalyzer test.
2. What can throw off a breathalyzer?
   Certain medications and substances, such as asthma medications, Nyquil and OTC medications with alcohol, Anbesol in oral gels, mouthwash and breath spray, fumes, gastroesophageal acid reflux, and ketones, can cause false positives for BAC in breath testing.
3. Can coffee set off an interlock?
   Despite what you may have heard, drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, or eating a large meal isn’t going to prevent the sensors from picking up on the alcohol in your system.
4. Does caffeine affect your BAC?
   Caffeine has no effect on the metabolism of alcohol by the liver and thus does not reduce breath or blood alcohol concentrations (it does not “sober you up”) or reduce impairment due to alcohol consumption.
5. What gives false positive for breathalyzer?
   The acid produced in the stomach or esophagus from heartburn, acid reflux, and gastrointestinal reflux disease can skew a breathalyzer test. Breathing into the breathalyzer equipment with short breaths can also produce inaccurate readings.
6. How many drinks does it take to fail a breathalyzer?
   For every one drink, your BAC goes up by about 0.02 percent, so reaching a BAC of 0.08 percent takes about four to five drinks.
7. What kills alcohol breath for breathalyzer?
   To get rid of alcohol breath instantly, you can brush your teeth, use mouthwash, drink water, eat something, chew gum, wait it out, use a breath spray, or suck on mints or candies.
8. What foods do I avoid with my interlock?
   If you have an interlock device, you should avoid spicy foods, sugary foods (especially those containing yeast), fruit and fruit drinks, vinegar, energy drinks, vanilla extract, mouthwash, and breath spray.
9. What causes false positives on breathalyzer?
   The acid produced in the stomach or esophagus from heartburn, acid reflux, and gastrointestinal reflux disease can skew a breathalyzer test. Breathing into the breathalyzer equipment with short breaths can also produce inaccurate readings.
10. What besides alcohol can raise your BAC?
    Factors that can raise your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) other than alcohol include diet drinks, ketones, certain medications, mouthwash and breath sprays, and paint fumes.
11. What raises your BAC the fastest?
    Carbonation, such as that found in sparkling wine, champagne, or mixed drinks with sodas, may increase the rate at which alcohol passes through your stomach and result in a higher BAC.

Note: The answers to the questions are formatted as separate paragraphs for clarity purposes.