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Personal breathalyzers?

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DirkkDiggler said:
You may feel like ******************** and not be in tip top form, but you are not "under the influence" because you don't have any alcohol left in your body. How are you under the influence if there isn't any of the stuff left in your blood stream?

If you are feeling like crap and not in top form BECAUSE you had too much alcohol, then you ARE under the influence of alcohol. That is like saying that the reason that you are tired has nothing to do with the fact that you had a reduced rest overnight and only got 6 hours of sleep.
 
DirkkDiggler said:
Bull sh!t. While it sucks to go to work hungover, you are not literally "under the influence of alcohol" when you are hungover. At least not by the legal definition, which is what the FAR's are describing. You may feel like ******************** and not be in tip top form, but you are not "under the influence" because you don't have any alcohol left in your body. How are you under the influence if there isn't any of the stuff left in your blood stream? Perhaps I'm arguing semantics here, but I think you're off base with your comments. Especially since you felt the need to put the ".....don't go to work" comment in there as if you're talking down to someone. Get off your high horse jackalope.

Sorry, if you are hungover, you have no business flying an airplane. Here's what he wrote.
However, I feel like vomiting, I feel dizzy, and totally out of it. I have a hard time concentrating and am experiencing a horrible hangover.
Do you think he should be flying? I don't think so, and I would hope you would think twice about it. Was I talking down to him? No, just hoping to help somebody make a better decision if it ever came to that. Now, when I tell you that I think you are a jerkoff, yes, I am talking down to you. I hope my family never gets on one of your flights with that thinking.
 
And what about the days you dont wake up with a Hangover...but might have tied one on? Didn't break any company or FAA Time rules. Drank water and got to bed reasonable for a late show, woke up and felt Like a million buck (IE no fat chick). Now-a-days with TSA sniffing around extra close it would be nice to have a little more piece of mind that you can blow some Stinky-Hotel-coffee-mcmuffin-gum-stolen-mint-more-coffee-with-no-rum-beer-vodka-breath in their face.
Dont think the original post was to see how drunk you can take it, nor 'am I legal to fly with this hangover' but more of a self check on yourself. Especially with tighter zero tolerance policies that have nothing to do with the FAA and moreto do with "Per Company GOM"

All the non-drinkers wouldn't understand......
 
Stifler's Mom said:
Sorry, if you are hungover, you have no business flying an airplane. Here's what he wrote.

Do you think he should be flying? I don't think so, and I would hope you would think twice about it. Was I talking down to him? No, just hoping to help somebody make a better decision if it ever came to that. Now, when I tell you that I think you are a jerkoff, yes, I am talking down to you. I hope my family never gets on one of your flights with that thinking.

Did you read my post? I didn't quote that guy you quoted back to me. I quoted the guy explaining the "under the influence" term to everyone. Read it again. And you could never make me feel like you are talking down to me.
 
I second the thought that if you need to pack a personal breathalyzer in your overnight bag to keep yourself out of trouble, it's time to seek out a program.

Having said that, a word on personal breathalyzers.... They come out of the package quite accurate, but any alcohol detection device must be recalibrated fairly frequently to remain accurate. Most police jurisdictions require their breathalyzers to be calibrated every 90 day (at least in Georgia). If you're counting on a three year old device to keep you legal behind the wheel of a car, you may well be in for a rude awakening if you get pulled over.
 
DirkkDiggler said:
Did you read my post? I didn't quote that guy you quoted back to me. I quoted the guy explaining the "under the influence" term to everyone. Read it again. And you could never make me feel like you are talking down to me.

Then why did you quote me in order to respond to someone else? I hope you get nailed by the TSA going to work hungover since you see no problem with it. You seem to be just another "Generation Me" person who doesn't think their actions affect other people.
 
Alchohol has a myriad of effects on the body when used in any sort of excess. One of the largest problems is the effect on REM cycles while sleeping. The quality of sleep is decreased which means you aren't as well rested as you think for a given amount of time in the sack. One or two drinks on an overnight with sufficent rest is not going to cause a problem. If you're worried about BAC and TSA agents you have a problem and need to get treated. Professionals do not drink to the point where they have to be concerned about fitness for flight or legality. These thoughts are an early warning that need to be acted on. Many airlines have a HIMS or similar program. Take advantage of it, get treated, and preserve your place in the profession.
 
Ralgha said:
If you need to carry a breathalyzer to figure out if you can go to work or not, you shouldn't be in this line of work.
well said!!!!!
 
I think the personal breathalyzers are an awesome idea. I didn't get one to try and fly after 'just passing' a test, but for my days off when we go out for dinner or maybe hit a pub afterward.

To the police, its a game. They have the test equipment. You don't. So it's a roll of the dice when you start drinking, and they know that. Enter the personal breathalyzer...game over. You're not classified as an alcoholic if you buy one, I think its a smart decision. $100.00 or thousands for a .08 DUI after a glass of wine at dinner and maybe a couple of beers later. I never use it to see if I can fly, then maybe you have a problem.
 
Boris Badenov said:
I take it there's no way to do this yourself?
Short of buying a new one every few months.... no.

Wait! I have a better idea. How about this??? Don't drink and drive.

I firmly stand by my opinion that anyone who kills someone on the road while over the legal limit should be charged with second degree murder.

Don't get me wrong. I drink... a good amount come to think of it... more than I should really... but I never EVER get behind the wheel after having a drink or two.

If you're counting on a personal breathalyzer to shave of .01% or so just so you can feel good about being legal, you have no business behind the wheel of a car.

Off my soapbox now.
 
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COOPERVANE said:
Or if an over zealous TSA lifer smells any alcohol on your breath, hungover or not. Cha-ching $40 bonus for him, maybee NO more jobbie for you!




P.S. don't talk to TSA in the AM if in doubt. Better yet, just call in sick

This is why im glad at most of the overnights we only have to go through the Op"s backdoor to get to the plane in the morning, no security. Not that I get knee-walking drunk on overnights (gotta save those nights for recurrent every year), but the TSA would just love to put me in the pokie im sure.

Theres no reason why you cant have a few beers on an overnight. If your telling me that you have a couple beers, many, many hours before you go to bed, and cant wake up in a suitable fashion to fly this airplane, then lets face it, you just not a real man, you nancy.

Id be in better shape the next morning if I got shanghaied, but got a decent nights sleep then if i went to bed sober and only got minimum rest.

I remember taking long road trips, getting super tired, but kept on driving anyway. I was waaaaaay more dangerous in the condition than if I had taken down a six pack.

Thats just me I guess, everyones different.
 

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