Self-Test for Breath Alcohol

Alcohol, Breath Test

Why It Is Done

The breath alcohol self-test is used to estimate your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The results can help you decide whether it is safe to drive. This estimate of blood alcohol is not intended to represent your actual driving abilities. Your driving may be impaired even with a low BAC level, such as below 0.05.

The breath alcohol test offers one piece of information to help you make a safe decision about drinking and driving. The safest decision is always not to drive if you have been drinking.

Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is commonly used by police and other legal authorities to determine whether a person is legally impaired and should not drive. Under the Canadian statutory Criminal Code, it is an offence to drive when the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is over 0.08. Many provinces have set the legal definition of intoxication or presumed impairment at a lower level, at a BAC of 0.05. Provinces cannot give criminal penalties for levels below the statutory BAC limit of 0.08.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: August 28, 2006
Medical Review:	Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care, Medical Toxicology
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