💡 Breathalyzers Can Help People Drink Less, But Not Everyone

Researchers at the University of Illinois analyzed data from more than 32,000 users of mobile breathalyzers between 2016 and 2022. These devices connect to a smartphone, and before each test, the app asks users to guess their blood alcohol level, then shows the actual result.

📱 After analyzing hundreds of thousands of readings, researchers found that about 70% of users underestimated how intoxicated they were. However, over time, self-assessments became more accurate: people got better at judging their condition.

For heavier drinkers, this improvement in self-awareness seemed to help: their average blood alcohol level dropped from 0.106% to 0.096%, suggesting they were stopping earlier.

❓ Interestingly, researchers observed the opposite trend among moderate drinkers: their blood alcohol levels actually increased. They believe this group relies on the legal driving limit (0.08% BAC in most U.S. states) as a reference point. Seeing they're still "under the limit," they may feel comfortable having another drink.

@hiaimediaen