Have you ever wondered if chewing sugar-free gum or using toothpaste with sugar alcohol could cause a false positive on a breathalyzer test?
It’s a common question, especially for those who want to avoid any potential legal trouble while still enjoying their favorite sugar-free products.
In this article, we’ll explore the science behind sugar alcohol and breathalyzer tests, and whether or not you need to worry about it affecting your results.
So sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the world of sugar alcohol and breathalyzers.
Will Sugar Alcohol Show Up On A Breathalyzer?
First, it’s important to understand what sugar alcohol is. Sugar alcohol is a type of chemical compound that has a hydroxyl unit attached, and it’s commonly found in sugar-free gum, mints, and toothpaste.
Breathalyzers, on the other hand, are designed to detect ethanol, which is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol is metabolized by the liver and then excreted through the breath, which is why breathalyzers can detect it.
Sugar alcohol and ethanol are chemically very different from each other, so sugar alcohol should not give a positive response in breath testing instruments. In fact, studies have shown that chewing gum with sugar alcohol prior to providing a breath sample does not produce a false positive result on breath alcohol screening devices in the vast majority of cases.
However, there have been anecdotal reports of false positives occurring when sorbitol, a type of sugar alcohol, is present in the mouth during a breathalyzer test. This can happen when someone has been chewing sorbitol gum or using toothpaste with sorbitol before taking the test.
In one case in Massachusetts, a television news crew used Crest toothpaste containing sorbitol on a subject who had no alcohol in their system. The toothpaste resulted in a .04% reading on a breath testing device that had previously read 0.0%. When repeated with a sorbitol lozenge, the same result occurred.
It’s important to note that this is not a common occurrence and that false positives for sugar alcohol are usually added to any alcohol found in the breath, making the reading artificially high and usually above the legal limit of .08% alcohol level.
What Is Sugar Alcohol And How Is It Used In Products?
Sugar alcohol is a type of sweetener that is commonly used in sugar-free products such as gum, mints, and toothpaste. It is also used as a low-calorie sweetener in some foods and beverages.
Sugar alcohol is chemically different from regular sugar and does not affect blood sugar levels in the same way. It is also less likely to cause tooth decay compared to regular sugar. Some common types of sugar alcohol include sorbitol, xylitol, and mannitol.
In products like gum and mints, sugar alcohol is used to provide a sweet taste without the added calories and negative effects on dental health that come with regular sugar. In toothpaste, it is often added to provide a pleasant taste and texture.
While sugar alcohol can be a safe and effective alternative to regular sugar, it’s important to note that it can have a laxative effect if consumed in large quantities. This is because the body has difficulty digesting sugar alcohol, which can lead to bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
How Does A Breathalyzer Test Work?
Breathalyzer tests work by measuring the amount of alcohol in the exhaled air from a driver’s lungs. The machine then uses this data to estimate the driver’s blood alcohol content. When a person consumes alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and then metabolized by the liver. As the liver metabolizes the alcohol, it produces a byproduct called acetaldehyde which is then further broken down into carbon dioxide and water.
During this process, some of the alcohol is released from the body through the breath. The breathalyzer machine measures the amount of alcohol in the exhaled air, and then uses that data to estimate the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream.
Breathalyzers are calibrated to measure ethanol, which is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. When a person consumes alcoholic beverages, the ethanol is absorbed into their bloodstream and then eventually exhaled through their breath. The breathalyzer machine detects this ethanol and gives a reading that corresponds to the amount of ethanol in the bloodstream.
While sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and xylitol are chemically different from ethanol, there have been some anecdotal reports of false positives occurring when sorbitol is present in the mouth during a breathalyzer test. This is because sorbitol can be metabolized by oral bacteria into ethanol, which can then be detected by the breathalyzer machine. However, this is not a common occurrence and false positives for sugar alcohol are usually added to any alcohol found in the breath, making the reading artificially high and usually above the legal limit of .08% alcohol level.
Can Sugar Alcohol Affect Breathalyzer Results?
While sugar alcohol is chemically different from ethanol and should not give a positive response in breath testing instruments, there have been cases where sorbitol, a type of sugar alcohol, has resulted in false positives on breathalyzer tests. This can happen when sorbitol is present in the mouth from chewing gum or using toothpaste before taking the test.
In these cases, the sugar alcohol is usually added to any existing ethanol in the breath, resulting in an artificially high reading that can put the subject above the legal limit even if they were actually below it. It’s important to note that this is not a common occurrence and that false positives for sugar alcohol are rare.
If you are concerned about sugar alcohol affecting your breathalyzer results, it’s always a good idea to talk to an alcohol expert experienced in DUI cases. Additionally, if you have been chewing gum or using toothpaste with sorbitol before taking a breathalyzer test, it’s important to inform the officer administering the test so they can take that into account.
Studies On Sugar Alcohol And Breathalyzer Tests
Several studies have investigated the potential for sugar alcohol to show up on a breathalyzer test. One study conducted in 1988 found that high levels of acetone, which can be present in the breath of people with diabetes or those on low-carbohydrate diets, can create a reading of .06% on a breath test. This is just .02% under the legal limit of .08%.
However, other studies have shown that sugar alcohol does not produce a false positive result on breath alcohol screening devices in the majority of cases. Participants in one study attended five sessions where they received different doses of vodka and either regular or diet soda, or a placebo beverage. The study predicted that the alcohol + diet beverage would result in higher blood alcohol concentration (BrAC) compared to the alcohol + regular beverage for both alcohol doses. However, the study did not find any significant difference in BrAC between the two types of soda.
It’s important to note that while there have been anecdotal reports of false positives occurring when sorbitol is present in the mouth during a breathalyzer test, this is not a common occurrence. False positives for sugar alcohol are usually added to any alcohol found in the breath, making the reading artificially high and usually above the legal limit.
Other Factors That Can Affect Breathalyzer Results
While sugar alcohol may not typically cause false positives on breathalyzer tests, there are other factors that can affect the accuracy of the results. For example, certain medications and over-the-counter products contain alcohol, which can lead to a false positive result.
Cough medications like Nyquil and certain Vicks products, as well as some cough drops, contain alcohol in small amounts. Consuming these products regularly or shortly before taking a breathalyzer test can lead to a false positive result.
Fermented beverages like kombucha may also contain trace amounts of alcohol that can produce a false positive on a breathalyzer test. Similarly, ripe fruit and some types of bread can contain trace amounts of alcohol that may be detected by a breathalyzer.
Individuals with dental work like crowns and bridges may also experience false positives due to alcohol getting trapped in small crevices within the dental work. Additionally, breathing into the breathalyzer equipment with short breaths can produce inaccurate readings, leading to unjust DUI charges.
It’s also important to note that every breath testing device and method has a margin of error, which can lead to inaccurate results. Factors like age, weight, gender, and metabolism can all affect how quickly the body metabolizes alcohol, which can lead to varying results on breathalyzer tests.
Conclusion: Should You Be Worried About Sugar Alcohol And Breathalyzer Tests?
Based on the information available, it seems that sugar alcohol should not be a cause for concern when it comes to breathalyzer tests. While there have been some isolated reports of false positives occurring when sorbitol is present in the mouth during a breathalyzer test, these instances are rare and not the norm.
Furthermore, studies have shown that chewing gum with sugar alcohol prior to providing a breath sample does not produce a false positive result on breath alcohol screening devices in the vast majority of cases. This means that individuals who use sugar-free gum, mints or toothpaste containing sugar alcohol should not be worried about it affecting their breathalyzer test results.
