If you haven’t heard of the BACTrack S75 Pro, it is a portable and extremely accurate blood alcohol content (BAC) measuring device, recently revealed by KHN Solutions, LLC at CES. If you want to read more about the product, you can check my detailed profile here. After receiving my S75 Pro, I decided to put it to the test, so I called a few of my good friends who I knew would be up for a scientific experience.
The materials:
- BACTrack S75 Pro
- 1 bottle Smirnoff 100 proof vodka
- 1 bottle 1800 Silver 80 proof tequila
- 3 shot glasses
- Camera
- Tracking spreadsheet
I will keep the other participants nameless (John and Tom), but in the tracking spreadsheet, I am participant #1. We started the night around 8:00PM – I started agressively and went with the 100 proof vodka, while John and Tom hit up the tequila. The instructions say to wait 15 to 20 minutes after your last drink before taking your measurement, so after the first shot, the timer started. 19 minutes in we took our first measurements. I came in at 0.018, or a little less than 1/4 of the established legal limit. Both of my fellow scientists measured an astounding 0.000. We were slightly disappointed by their measurements, but figured it was either a fluke, or due to the fact that they are both heavier or taller than me, OR that they started with 80 proof.
We moved on to tequila, tequila, and vodka respectively. At the time of the second measurement, the results started to climb more appropriately. I was measuring 0.036, John was 0.015, and Tom was 0.012. Now things were getting interesting. I’d like to note that at 0.036, I was questioning if driving a car was a good idea, and was really curious about what 0.080 would actually feel like. Shot #3 came and went and put me to 0.049, John to 0.025, and Tom to 0.020. At shot 4, I was confident that I definitely could not drive a car, and began to act a little silly (0.064). My handwriting got sloppy enough where I could barely read the tracking spreadsheet, but the night continued to get more amusing.
Shot #5 was the lucky number for me to pass the legal limit. 15 minutes after taking a shot of tequila, I registered a nice even 0.080. Now, I’m guessing that my judgement was slightly altered at this point, and I decided it was a good idea to continue. John and Tom were measuring 0.064 and 0.071 respectively. Shot #6 got my to a great place – 0.099. I don’t blame my friends, but I’m wondering if someone should have stopped me 
10:04PM – shot #7 is tequila across the board. I hit 0.107, John 0.069, and Tom 0.088. He is now in the legally drunk club with me! We took those measurements about 15 minutes after taking the shot, and out of curiousity, I took one more measurement 5 minutes later (the story I’m told is that I forgot I measured and argued until I took it again); I was 0.108. One important note – I do not remember anything after shot #5. I found a handful of pictures of my camera in the morning that I cannot post on here. Yes, they are really THAT bad.
10:37PM – shot #8 will be my last. Someone pours the tequila for me, I take the shot, and get my final measurement of 0.140. I was almost twice the legal limit. John finishes the night at 0.087 and Tom at 0.108 (the 0.108 was scribbled through on the tracking sheet… not sure what that means). Is this irresponsible? Yes, very. Do I recommend anyone try this? No, definitely not. Was it worth it in the name of science? Absolutely!
8:55AM the next morning – I wake up and still feel a little buzzed. Curiousity got the best of me and I pulled out the S75 Pro for another reading… I was still drunk! 9 hours after passing out and I still had a BAC of 0.037. At 11:00AM, I took my final measurement and was 0.016.
Lessons Learned
- The legal limit should be lower than 0.08. At 0.04, I started questioning if I could safely drive, and my answer is definitely no.
- Alcohol really metabolizes differently in everyone – one person who wasn’t on the tracking sheet was my wife. After 4 glasses of wine, she passed the legal limit.
- You really can be still drunk in the morning. I always hear people joke about this, but I can scientifically confirm that it does happen.
- Everyone needs an accurate breathalyzer, and the S75 Pro is a great choice.
If you are curious about the details, I’ve uploaded a typed version of the tracking spreadsheet here.
If you have any ideas for future topics, a gadget you want reviewed, or just want to say hello, you can always email me at paulfalor@gmail.com.
