Portable breathalyzer put to the test locally

With the New Year right around the corner, a new tool is out on the market, designed to warn you when you've had too much to drink. <br><br>But not everyone is applauding a digital device. News on

Saturday, December 29th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

With the New Year right around the corner, a new tool is out on the market, designed to warn you when you've had too much to drink.

But not everyone is applauding a digital device. News on Six reporter Jenni Monet says it's a portable Breathalyzer claiming to test your blood alcohol level instantly. So she tested it out at Steamroller Blues at 18th and Boston, and got the opinion of local police.

Tis the season to celebrate. But revelers beware, too much of the holiday cheer could mean winding up in jail. Tulsa Police officer Andy Phillips, "New Year's and St Patrick's day are the two holidays when we see the most drinking occur." Itâ€™s why police are warning everyone, play it safe. "Especially in between the hours of midnight and six and seven in the morning. Itâ€™s one reason behind this new device aimed for you to do the same.

Itâ€™s called the digital Breathalyzer; we purchased and quickly put to the test. We asked officer Andy Phillips to join us at a local bar. We first spoke with a man working on his fourth glass of wine, he blew into the Breathalyzer. His reading, a .092. They were results officer Phillips says are agreeable. "I think it's pretty consistent with what we talked about earlier when we talked about body weight and we talk about the intake of alcohol." And much was the same for a young woman, already down two shots of liquor. In the end a ready of .045. "Yeah, that would be fairly accurate." But officer Phillips warns these devices donâ€™t always ring true. "Just because they get a certain reading on this device doesn't always mean that if they were to be tested by us they would get the same reading."

Itâ€™s why he says the best advice when celebrating this season, decide to drink, or decide to drive. â€œIf you're gonna be drinking, you need to get yourself a designated driver because if you're relying on a device like this, then your perilously close to that end point. This device isn't all that bad, many parents out to test their teens are raving about it.

Just keep in mind, if you're looking for safety this holiday season, call for a cab.