BACtrack Vio Revolutionizes the Breathalyzer Construct

NPR interviewed BACtrack President and Founder, Keith Nothacker for the article. "'Previously there was a stigma with alcohol testing, and we've been fighting that stigma,' says Nothacker, who started the company in 2001 as a college senior, and is now based in San Francisco. 'We want people to talk about their BAC and not be embarrassed.'"

To prove the efficacy of using a keychain breathalyzer like the Vio, NPR also spoke with a public health researcher familiar with the breathalyzer technology. "'The keychain breathalyzer allows people to find out how much they've had to drink objectively. And they can get a pretty good sense of whether it's a good idea to drive,' Michael McDonell, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, tells The Salt. 'In study after study, we see that just objectively tracking your use of [a substance] will reduce your use.'"

NPR also commented on the new Guess Your BAC feature in the BACtrack app. After using the app for a time, the reporters found they "were able to more accurately guess our BAC, which the Vio asks you to do before every measurement."

In the end, they gave the Vio high marks.

"All in all, though, a key chain blood-alcohol reader is a handy tool to have around. And we can easily imagine a future where people sign their texts and emails with their BAC: 'This email was composed at BAC .06.'"

Read the full article here.