How Do You Fail a Breathalyzer Without Drinking?

It is possible to register a false positive on a breathalyzer test without consuming alcohol due to several factors that can interfere with the device's accuracy. These non-alcoholic influences can lead to a reading indicating the presence of alcohol when none has been consumed.

Equipment and Calibration Errors

One primary reason for an inaccurate breathalyzer reading is the device itself. Faulty or incorrectly-calibrated equipment can produce erroneous results. Breathalyzers require regular maintenance and precise calibration to ensure their accuracy. If a device is not properly calibrated or has a malfunction, it might register alcohol where none exists, or provide an inflated reading.

Medical Conditions

Certain medical conditions can cause the body to produce substances that are misinterpreted as alcohol by a breathalyzer. For instance:

• Diabetes: Individuals with uncontrolled diabetes may enter a state of ketoacidosis, producing ketones that can be mistaken for alcohol by some breathalyzers.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or Acid Reflux: These conditions can bring stomach contents and gasses, potentially including trace amounts of alcohol from fermentation, up into the mouth and throat, leading to a false positive.
• Liver Disease: Impaired liver function can affect the body's metabolism and potentially lead to the presence of compounds on the breath that interfere with breathalyzer results.

Medications and Other Oral Substances

Various medications and oral products can contain alcohol or other chemicals that trigger a positive breathalyzer result, even if they are not meant for intoxication.

• Cough Syrups and Cold Medications: Many over-the-counter liquid medications contain alcohol. While typically consumed in small amounts, residual alcohol in the mouth can affect a breath test.
• Mouthwash and Breath Sprays: Products designed to clean the mouth or freshen breath often contain significant amounts of alcohol. Immediate testing after using these can lead to high readings.
• Asthma Inhalers: Some inhalers use an alcohol base to deliver medication, which can temporarily affect breath tests.
• Hand Sanitizer: Residual alcohol from hand sanitizer on the hands can be inadvertently transferred to the mouth or breath, especially if someone has just used it and touches their face or breathes on their hands near the device.

Mouth Contaminants and Recent Ingestion

Substances recently consumed or present in the mouth that are not alcoholic beverages can also cause a false positive by leaving mouth contaminates or trace amounts of alcohol.

• Certain Foods or Drinks: Some foods and non-alcoholic drinks contain trace amounts of alcohol or can ferment in the mouth, leading to a temporary presence that a breathalyzer might detect. Examples include:
  • Fermented foods like kombucha, some vinegars, or very ripe fruits.
  • Certain pastries or desserts that use alcohol extracts (e.g., vanilla extract).
  • Energy drinks that might contain certain compounds misinterpreted by the device.
• Dental Issues: Poor oral hygiene or dental work that traps food particles can lead to localized fermentation.

To better understand these contributing factors, refer to a comprehensive overview of reasons why a breathalyzer test might give a false-positive result.

Here's a summary of common non-alcoholic reasons for breathalyzer false positives:

Understanding these various non-alcoholic factors can provide clarity if you encounter an unexpected breathalyzer result.