Table of Contents
- What Can Cause a False Positive for Alcohol on a Breathalyzer?
- 1. Alcohol Left in Your Mouth
- 2. Your Body Produces Alcohol (Yep, Really)
- 3. Medical Conditions
- What Can Make Your BAC High Without Drinking?
- 1. Certain Medications
- 2. Fermented Foods and Drinks
- Can Anything Throw Off a Breathalyzer?
- What Drinks Can Make You Test Positive for Alcohol?
- Can a Breathalyzer Detect Anything Other Than Alcohol?
- Will Vinegar Set Off a Breathalyzer?
- How Do I Clear My Breath for a Breathalyzer?
- Can Toothpaste Set Off a Breathalyzer?
- Can Coke Set Off a Breathalyzer?
- How Do You Void a Breathalyzer?
- How Do You Hide a Breathalyzer?
- What Messes Up a Breathalyzer?
- Final Thoughts
Ever heard stories about people failing a breathalyzer after using mouthwash or eating a ripe banana? It sounds crazy, but there’s some truth to it. Breathalyzers are supposed to detect alcohol in your system, but sometimes, they get fooled by things that aren’t booze.
So, can toothpaste, vinegar, or even soda mess with your results? Can you actually “clear” your breath before a test? Let’s break it all down in a way that actually makes sense—without the confusing science talk.
What Can Cause a False Positive for Alcohol on a Breathalyzer?
Picture this: You’re driving home after a night out. You only had one drink hours ago, and you feel totally fine. Then, you get pulled over. The officer asks you to blow into a breathalyzer, and boom—your reading is higher than expected. What happened?
A false positive can be caused by a few things:
1. Alcohol Left in Your Mouth
Breathalyzers are supposed to measure alcohol in your lungs, but if there’s still some in your mouth, it can throw off the results. This can happen if you:
- Just used mouthwash (which often contains alcohol)
- Took cough syrup
- Ate food made with alcohol (like rum cake)
A friend of mine once used a minty mouthwash before heading to work, got pulled over, and blew over the limit. Thankfully, the officer waited a few minutes and retested, and his BAC dropped to zero.
2. Your Body Produces Alcohol (Yep, Really)
Some people’s bodies naturally produce acetone, which can be mistaken for alcohol by some breathalyzers. This happens a lot with:
- People on keto or low-carb diets
- Diabetics
- Anyone fasting for a long time
If you’ve ever had that weird “fruity breath” while dieting, that’s acetone. Some breathalyzers can pick it up and think it’s alcohol.
3. Medical Conditions
If you have acid reflux, GERD, or even just burp right before blowing into the machine, it can pull alcohol from your stomach and give a falsely high reading.
What Can Make Your BAC High Without Drinking?
Sometimes, breathalyzers think you’ve been drinking when you haven’t had a drop. Here’s how that can happen:
1. Certain Medications
Some medicines actually contain alcohol, like:
- NyQuil and other cold medicines
- Some asthma inhalers
- Certain liquid antibiotics
I once had a coworker who swore he hadn’t been drinking, but he blew a 0.02 BAC. Turns out, he had just taken a big dose of NyQuil the night before.
2. Fermented Foods and Drinks
Believe it or not, some everyday foods contain trace amounts of alcohol, like:
- Kombucha (it’s fermented, after all)
- Ripe fruit (bananas, for example, can produce small amounts of alcohol)
- Soy sauce
- Bread (yeast fermentation can create tiny alcohol traces)
While these usually won’t push your BAC over the legal limit, they can give you a weird reading right after eating.
Can Anything Throw Off a Breathalyzer?
Yes! Lots of things can interfere with a breathalyzer, including:
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- Strong mouthwash or breath spray (if they contain alcohol)
- Smoking (residue in your mouth can affect results)
- Chemical fumes (if you’ve been painting or working with solvents)
- Temperature extremes (cold weather can sometimes affect breathalyzer accuracy)
What Drinks Can Make You Test Positive for Alcohol?
Obviously, alcohol will make you test positive—but what about drinks that shouldn’t? Some surprising ones include:
- Non-alcoholic beer or wine – They still contain a tiny bit of alcohol.
- Energy drinks – Some contain alcohol traces, while others just mess with your metabolism.
- Kombucha – Since it’s fermented, it naturally has small amounts of alcohol.
- Fermented fruit juices – Apple juice or orange juice left out too long can start fermenting.
Can a Breathalyzer Detect Anything Other Than Alcohol?
Breathalyzers are designed to pick up ethanol (the type of alcohol in drinks), but they can also mistake other substances for booze, like:
- Acetone (from keto diets or diabetes)
- Methanol or isopropanol exposure (if you’ve been around certain chemicals)
- Some mouth sprays or breath fresheners
Most modern breathalyzers are better at telling the difference, but cheap or old ones might still get confused.
Will Vinegar Set Off a Breathalyzer?
Most vinegars, like white or apple cider vinegar, won’t set off a breathalyzer. But some, like balsamic or wine vinegar, still contain traces of alcohol from fermentation. If you drink a lot of it right before a test, it might give a small spike.
How Do I Clear My Breath for a Breathalyzer?
If you’re worried about false positives, here’s what actually helps:
✅ Wait at least 15-20 minutes before taking the test.
✅ Rinse your mouth with water (not mouthwash!).
✅ Breathe deeply before blowing to get deep lung air.
What doesn’t work? Sucking on pennies, chewing gum, or eating strong foods—those are all myths.
Can Toothpaste Set Off a Breathalyzer?
Most toothpaste won’t, but some “whitening” or antibacterial ones contain small amounts of alcohol. If you brush right before blowing into a breathalyzer, it could have a minor effect.
Can Coke Set Off a Breathalyzer?
Coca-Cola and other sodas won’t directly set off a breathalyzer, but carbonation can make you burp, which might bring up alcohol from your stomach if you’ve been drinking. Some diet sodas also have sugar alcohols, but those don’t affect BAC readings.
How Do You Void a Breathalyzer?
There’s no magic trick to “void” a breathalyzer. The best you can do is make sure the reading is accurate by:
- Waiting 20 minutes before blowing
- Rinsing your mouth with water
- Breathing deeply before taking the test
Trying to trick the system (like holding your breath or hyperventilating) won’t work—and might even make your reading higher.
How Do You Hide a Breathalyzer?
If you’re asking this, you might be in trouble! But seriously, trying to hide or tamper with a breathalyzer test is a bad idea. If you refuse a test, you could face penalties just as if you failed it.
Your best bet? If you think the test is wrong, request a blood test—it’s the most accurate way to measure BAC.
What Messes Up a Breathalyzer?
Here’s a quick list of things that can throw off a breathalyzer reading:
- Mouthwash, breath sprays, or anything with alcohol
- GERD or acid reflux bringing alcohol from your stomach into your mouth
- Keto diets or fasting increasing acetone in your breath
- Smoking or vaping affecting your mouth’s chemistry
- Recent drinking—even if you’re under the limit, residual alcohol can spike the test
Final Thoughts
Breathalyzers aren’t perfect, and plenty of things can give false readings. The best way to avoid problems? Give it time, drink water, and know what can affect the results.
Ever had a weird breathalyzer experience? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear it!
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