Drunk Driving Defense, DUI Arrest - FAQs
18. Can you explain mouth alcohol
?
Mouth alcohol is defined as the presence of alcohol in the esophagus or mouth. Breath test results can be unusually, and incorrectly, high if mouth alcohol exists. For complicated medical reasons, the internal computer of the breath test machines will take the amount of alcohol and multiply it by 2100. The machines also presume that the breath originates from the lungs. Because of these two facts, the smallest amount of alcohol blown directly into the breath test machine can alter the results considerably.
There are many possible reasons for mouth alcohol to exist:
- The urban myth about breath fresheners is true: Products like Listerine and Binaca contain alcohol and can affect test results greatly. There are many other products, like certain cough syrups, that also contain alcohol.
- If the suspect had hiccupped, belched, burped, or vomited within 20 minutes of taking the breath test, the test results could also change. Actions like these can bring vapors from the alcoholic beverages that are still in the stomach back up into the throat and mouth.
- If the suspect has dental caps or dental bridges, they can capture alcohol in the mouth.
- If the suspect suffers from a chronic
reflux
condition from gastric distress. - A hiatal hernia can also cause elevated test results.
- If the suspect has suffered an injury recently, and blood is present in the mouth. Blown directly into the machine, the machine will multiply any alcohol present in the blood by 2100.
