Review: Alcosense Excel

The season of festive excess might have passed but the dangersofdrink-drivingare ever-present. As everybody knows, alcohol and driving don’t mix but even if you know what the blood-alcohol limit is it can be hard to gauge whether you’ re above or below it. That’ s where this little gadget comes in. The Al co sense Excel is a reusable home breathalyser that aims to keep you clear on whether you are at or near the legal limit. Using a scaled-down version of the same sensor found in police breathalysers, the Alcosense Excel claims to bring new levels of accuracy to the sub£100 section of the market. The manufacturer says the device is accurate to within 0.15 per cent and includes features to prevent overloading and false readings. The device fits easily in the hand and features a sliding mechanism to protect the sensor when not in use, plus big clear buttons. Setup is straightforward, you set the date, your location and chose the limit. For the UK, it’s already programmed with the different limits for Scotland and England/wales/northern Ireland. If you’re travelling abroad three simple steps will calibrate it for local limits wherever you are. Using the device is incredibly easy. Switch it on, plug in one of the disposable mouthpieces and blow. After a few seconds the screen will show your reading and light up traffic lightstyle. red means you’ re over your limit, amber means it has detected alcohol but below the limit, and green means the reading is very low. It’s quick, clear and leaves you in little doubt about whether you’ re over the limit or not. While the £99 pricetag might seem steep compared with single-use devices, the Al co sense offers far greateraccuracy and can be used again and again. It can also be updated via computer and recalibrated to ensure it stays accurate.