The effect of non-alcoholic food and beverage consumption on preliminary breath alcohol testing by the Dräger Alcotest 6810 and Alco-Sensor FST

ABSTRACT This study investigated the frequency, magnitude, and duration of the mouth alcohol effect (MAE) following the ingestion of non-alcoholic food or beverages on two approved screening devices (ASD): the Dräger Alcotest 6810 and Alco-Sensor FST. Preliminary testing revealed only 5% of 39 non-alcohol containing food and beverage items tested produced a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) ≥10 mg/100 mL on the Dräger Alcotest 6810 whereas there were no positive responses on the Alco-Sensor FST. Subsequent testing on 52 subjects consuming Dempster's® White Bread, Wonder™ 100% Whole Wheat Bread, 7-Up® and/or Rockstar® energy drink showed the MAE to be small in both alcohol-free and alcohol-positive subjects. The maximum BrAC produced in an alcohol-free subject was 22 mg/100 mL which dissipated within 90 seconds following ingestion. In alcohol-positive subjects, statistically significant increases in the BrAC were observed following ingestion of select breads and beverages; however, the increase was of sufficiently low magnitude that analytical and sampling variability could account for the differences observed. The MAE following ingestion of non-alcohol-containing food and beverages is rare, transient, and of low magnitude. There is negligible risk that motorists will be negatively impacted by this effect.