What effect does alcohol presence in mouthwash have on BAC results?

The presence of alcohol in mouthwash can lead to falsely elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) readings because the alcohol can linger in the mouth and affect the sample taken for breath analysis. When a person uses mouthwash containing alcohol, traces of this substance may remain in the oral cavity, which can then be inhaled and detected by the Intoxilyzer 9000.

This can create a misleading impression of intoxication because the breathalyzer does not differentiate between alcohol present in the bloodstream and alcohol present due to residual contact in the mouth. Therefore, if a breath sample is taken soon after using alcohol-based mouthwash, the device could register a BAC that inaccurately reflects the individual's actual level of impairment.

This phenomenon is important for those administering breath tests to understand, as it underscores the necessity of ensuring that individuals do not consume substances containing alcohol before undergoing a breath test for accurate results.