Alcohol test countback?

Question

I have been breathalised and even though I passed my company is trying to do a counback on the test to see how many units their were 4 hours earlier by the way I passed the test

Answer 1

Blood test.

Answer 2

I am not sure what queation you are asking but I will assume that you asking how is this done? For the sake of simplity I will assume that you were breathalysed at least two hours after you stopped drinking. This is important because calculations that follow assume that you have absorbed all of the alcohol from your stomach into your body. At this point your blood alcohol level will be a maximum and your breath alcohol will be maxiumum. There is a simple relationship between the amount of alcohol in the blood, breath and urine. After this your body will break down the alochol at a steady rate. This happens mainly in the liver. So for each hour that passes the level of alcohol in your blood and breath will drop by a certain amount. In such calculations we assume that this loss of alcohol occurs at a known average rate. Rememeber, however, that this is an average rate. Some people break it down quicker, others more slowly. So, let's say you breath alcohol level was X units and you lose alcohol at a rate of p units per hour. Then 4 hours later your alcohol level will have dropped by 4 x p. So your alcohol level 4 hours earlier will be ~ X +4p. This is the simplest case. The calculations get quite complicated but I won't bother you with those unless you ask again. Oh, my use of 'units' was to keeps things simple. The actual measure will mg per 100ml blood etc. Don't confuse these with the units of alcohol we drink.
Hope this helps.

Answer 3

On the basis the the average person excludes roughly one unit of alcohol from their body per hour following the hour after which they stopped drinking then they may well be able to pinpoint fairly closely how many units you had.

When I say unit I'm talking pub measure, or half pint beer, or small glass of wine.

You don't say how you passed the test, I presume you were borderline, in which case count back would likely put you in fail situation.

I fail to see the significance of the question though, unless you are in employment that requires no alcohol within a certain time, in which case you were highly stupid

Answer 4

Does your company have a definite stated policy on this type of testing or is it just a one-off? If you passed the breathalyser there's a strong case for them to just lay off, and for you to be more careful in future.
Transport companies such as airlines, trains, and buses can reasonably expect their employees to abstain for a reasonable period before driving.

Answer 5

what did you blow? They can figure what you were from 4 hours prior based on what you blew, and how much you drank. That is, if they have the truth. I mean, if you have two beers in the 4 hours, most likely you were never over, but they have to have more than just your BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) from your breathalizer.

Answer 6

More to the point has your company got a policy which you have signed stating they have the right to carry out these tests?

Answer 7

Sounds to me like someone's out to get you. Someone very small-brained. Are you a practitioner of the martial art of "EFF-YOO"? I am. I would take them on. They can probably prove that you were drunk on your birthday, your wedding night, whatever. So what? You weren't drunk when you took the test - case closed.
The person who's instigating this sounds like a bully - bully them back. Get all "Legalistic" on them. Surely you feel victimised, oppressed, unwanted. Sue the be-jesus outta the bastards (or at least threaten it and see how quickly they stfu)

Answer 8

yes i agree a blood test

Answer 9

what do you mean? uhh maybe they can also check the urine or blood.. and i hear for drugs, they can also test the hair or scalp? hmmm

Answer 10

... so you have been drinking, and it is forbidden in your contract of employment ?

Sounds like you are in trouble ...