Anyone who drinks, whether regularly or socially, should conduct a blood alcohol test before driving – or even before ordering another drink. The breath alcohol test takes less than a minute to perform and when taken seriously, can also lower an individual’s risk of alcohol related tragedy.

Of course, in order to perform an alcohol test either at home or elsewhere, it’s necessary to have a personal breathalyzer. These are small, easy to transport devices that can be easily purchased online. The personal breathalyzer need only be turned on and allowed to ready itself which can take up to a minute before using.

Each breathalyzer comes with it’s own set of manufacturer’s instructions on it’s proper use and care. Once the device is ready, the most common steps when performing an alcohol test are to first breathe in and as you are beginning to breathe out, pull the device towards the mouth. Begin to blow out for a few seconds before placing your mouth over the mouthpiece or “blow area.” After a few seconds place your mouth around the mouthpiece. Keep your exhale slow and steady until you are done. Give the breathalyzer a moment to calculate and display your accurate BAC results.

Once an individual has the results of his or her alcohol testing, what happens next is entirely up to them, of course. A portable breathalyzer can’t stop an irresponsible drinker from driving. It can only give a person the knowledge they need to make an informed decision regarding whether or not they are legally allowed to drive. Basically, an alcoholtest performed with a personal breathalyzer, takes the guesswork out of the decision process. After that, well, one can only hope that an individual will take heed and take a cab or call a friend for a ride home.

A personal breathalyzer can range in price from just under $100 (for an decent and accurate model) to the low $100’s for a high quality professional grade device like the BacTrack S80 Breathalzyer. For those who plan to perform a test for alcohol on themselves and a few other family members, the basic device is satisfactory. Of course, if one plans to share their breathalyzer, it’s wise to purchase a bag of extra disposable mouthpieces which will cost around $15 per 50 mouthpieces. It also makes a thoughtful and practical gift for anyone who drinks or enjoys entertaining friends and family at home. No one wants a great night to end in tragedy. Drink responsibly and when you do drink, take a few minutes to stop and perform an alcohol test on yourself or on your loved ones before anyone gets behind the wheel.