Can you Beat a Breathalyzer with Peanut Butter?

Both DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) convictions commonly come with several restrictions and fines.

In order to keep a valid driver’s license, vehicle owners may be ordered to have an ignition interlock device, also known as an in-car breathalyzer, installed in their vehicle. These court-ordered devices are connected to the vehicle’s ignition system. If the breath sample exceeds the preset legal limit, the interlock device temporality prevents the vehicle from starting.

However, some drivers may try to bypass this system by masking the presence of alcohol on their breath. One of the ways motorists have attempted to drive after drinking alcohol is by eating peanut butter.

But can you beat a breathalyzer with peanut butter, or is this an urban myth? Let’s look at the science behind this phenomenon and try to separate fact from fiction.

How Do Breathalyzers Actually Work? 

To understand why the peanut butter myth is so persistent, it helps to know how breathalyzers work. Modern breathalyzers use one of two main technologies:

• Fuel Cell Technology: This is the most common type of technology used in both police and ignition interlock devices. When you blow into a fuel cell breathalyzer, the ethanol in your breath is oxidized, creating an electrical current. The strength of the current is directly proportional to the amount of alcohol in your system.
• Infrared Spectroscopy: This technology uses infrared light to measure the amount of alcohol in your breath. The alcohol molecules absorb a specific wavelength of light, and the device measures how much light is absorbed to determine your BAC.

Both of these technologies are highly sophisticated and designed to measure the alcohol that comes from deep within your lungs, not just the residual alcohol in your mouth. 

How to Beat a Breathalyzer Test with Peanut Butter

How-to videos online are plentiful; there are literally billions of them available on the internet. As a matter of fact, users on YouTube alone upload 300 hours of video content to the platform every minute of every day. A quick search of “How to beat a breathalyzer test with peanut butter” returns a wide variety of results.

One video in particular claims a person’s BAL (blood alcohol level) of 0.45 was eliminated after eating one tablespoon of peanut butter, jelly, and a glass of water. However, there are several problems with this approach and the video itself:

• This experiment wasn’t performed in a controlled environment. So, the breathalyzer result may be completely unreliable or, at the very least misleading.
• Even if BAC levels could be lowered with peanut butter, the breathalyzer used in the video isn’t an official, court-mandated device.
• Drivers are asked to blow into these devices during “rolling retests” or “rolling checks” when the car is in motion.
• There is also a problem with the timing since the video doesn’t show whether the results will change a few seconds or minutes later.
• Another issue is that the subject waits ten minutes after consuming multiple shots of alcohol. This may skew the person’s test results.

Another important issue to consider is that breathalyzer tests are administered by a police officer or other legal official. It’s highly unlikely that these professionals won’t notice the motorist consuming peanut butter before administering the test.

Can You Really Beat a Breathalyzer with Peanut Butter?

According to experts, the peanut butter approach to buck the breathalyzer system is close — but no cigar. Similarly, smoking or chewing tobacco products won’t work, either.

In short, using peanut butter to beat breathalyzer tests isn’t an effective solution, and here’s why: high levels of sodium found in peanuts and other legume by-products will neutralize ethanol (or alcohol) — but not by much.

Peanut butter also breaks down in the large intestine to produce hydrogen gas, which some people say can neutralize the alcohol. However, as peanut butter travels from the mouth to the large intestine, it bypasses the lungs. Unless you’re washing your lungs out with a peanut butter sandwich, it won’t help you beat a breathalyzer test.

Common Breathalyzer Myths Debunked 

Peanut butter is just one of many myths about how to beat a breathalyzer. Here are some other common myths that have been debunked:

• Sucking on a Penny: This is a popular myth, but it has no basis in reality. Pennies are no longer made of copper, and even if they were, the metal would have no effect on a breathalyzer.
• Using Mouthwash or Breath Mints: While these products may mask the smell of alcohol on your breath, they do nothing to lower your BAC. In fact, some mouthwashes contain alcohol and can actually increase your BAC reading.
• Hyperventilating or Holding Your Breath: Some studies have shown that these techniques can slightly alter a breathalyzer reading, but not enough to make a difference. Plus, law enforcement officers are trained to look for this kind of behavior.
• Drinking Coffee or Water: These beverages will not sober you up any faster. The only thing that can lower your BAC is time.

What Can Actually Affect Breathalyzer Results? 

While you can’t trick a breathalyzer, there are some legitimate factors that can affect the results:

• Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as diabetic ketoacidosis, can cause a false positive on a breathalyzer test.
• Mouth Alcohol: Residual alcohol in your mouth from a recent drink or from mouthwash can affect the reading. This is why officers are supposed to wait 15-20 minutes before administering a test.
• Improper Calibration: If a breathalyzer is not properly calibrated, it can give an inaccurate reading.

Ignition Interlock Devices vs. Police Breathalyzers 

It’s important to understand the difference between an ignition interlock device (IID) and a police breathalyzer. While both devices measure BAC, they are used for different purposes:

• Police Breathalyzers: These are portable devices used by law enforcement during traffic stops to establish probable cause for a DUI arrest.
• Ignition Interlock Devices: These are court-ordered devices that are installed in a vehicle and require the driver to provide a breath sample before the car will start.

IIDs are highly sophisticated and designed to be tamper-proof. They also have features like rolling retests to ensure that the driver remains sober while driving. 

Legal Consequences of Tampering with a Breathalyzer 

Trying to beat a breathalyzer, especially an ignition interlock device, can have serious legal consequences. Tampering with an IID is a crime in most states and can result in:

• Additional fines and fees
• Extension of your IID requirement
• Suspension or revocation of your driver’s license
• Even jail time

It’s simply not worth the risk. The only way to guarantee that you will pass a breathalyzer test is to not drink and drive. 

So, when it comes to beating breathalyzer tests, there’s only one solution: don’t drink and drive. Even a small amount of alcohol can cause impairment.

Looking for more answers to your questions? Whether you’re located in Virginia or Indiana, RoadGuard Interlock has a service center near you in one of our 34 states. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step toward license reinstatement.

*Links to any third-party websites herein are provided for your reference and convenience only. RoadGuard Interlock did not create nor develop and does not own any such third-party websites. RoadGuard Interlock does not endorse nor support the content of, nor any opinions stated in any such third-party website links. RoadGuard Interlock is not responsible for the content of any third-party website or its accuracy or reliability. Nothing contained in this article or in any such third-party website shall be considered legal advice or be deemed to constitute legal advice. For any legal advice concerning a DUI arrest, charge, conviction, or consequences thereof, you should contact an attorney of your choice.