Breathalyzer tests are often seen as the gold standard for determining whether someone is driving under the influence. However, what many people don’t realize is that certain everyday foods and products can cause these devices to give false positives. This phenomenon, called “mouth alcohol,” occurs when trace amounts of alcohol linger in your mouth rather than coming from your bloodstream.
Here, we explore eight surprising items that could interfere with breathalyzer readings – and explain exactly why they can skew results.
1. Honey Buns

Honey buns, with their sticky sweetness, are a favorite snack for many. However, these pastries can produce unexpectedly high breathalyzer readings. The reason lies in the fermentation process used during production. Yeast in the dough interacts with sugars to create trace amounts of alcohol, which remain in the final product.
When consumed, these small alcohol residues linger in your mouth and can briefly spike the results on a breathalyzer test. If you take the test right after eating one, you might find yourself registering a reading close to the legal limit. While this effect disappears in about six minutes, it’s enough to cause concern if the timing is wrong.
2. Listerine Mouthwash

Mouthwash is designed to kill germs and freshen breath, but it often contains significant amounts of alcohol – some formulas exceed 20%. This high alcohol content is why a quick swig of mouthwash can send your breathalyzer results soaring, sometimes to readings nine times the legal limit.
The alcohol in mouthwash isn’t absorbed into your bloodstream but instead evaporates from the mouth almost immediately, making the reading purely a result of “mouth alcohol.” It can take up to 30 minutes for the effects of mouthwash to dissipate, so if you’ve used it recently, it’s wise to wait before taking a breathalyzer.
3. Vanilla Extract

A staple in baking, vanilla extract is another surprising culprit. Most people don’t realize this flavoring is essentially alcohol infused with vanilla beans. With an alcohol content of around 35% – similar to vodka – a small amount can lead to significant breathalyzer readings if it lingers in your mouth.
Whether you’ve been baking cookies or just tasting a spoonful for fun, this ingredient can temporarily make it seem like you’ve had a stiff drink. Although no one drinks vanilla extract as a beverage, even a trace amount left in your mouth can cause issues on a test.
4. White Bread

Plain white bread might not seem like an offender, but it’s another surprising source of false positives. The yeast used in bread production ferments sugars, creating minute amounts of alcohol during the baking process. While the alcohol content is negligible and not enough to cause intoxication, it can linger in your mouth after eating.
A single slice of white bread consumed right before a breathalyzer test can result in a detectable reading. This is particularly concerning for those with ignition interlock devices, as even small traces can trigger alerts.
5. Non-Alcoholic Beer

Non-alcoholic beer often feels like a safe choice, but it’s not entirely free of alcohol. Most brands contain trace amounts, usually under 0.5%. While drinking one or two non-alcoholic beers won’t impair you, the residual alcohol in your mouth can influence a breathalyzer test.
Non-alcoholic beer can also stick around in your saliva, exaggerating the reading if the test is taken immediately after drinking. This makes it especially important to rinse your mouth with water or wait at least 10–15 minutes before testing.
6. Clif Bars

Energy bars, like Clif Bars, are another unexpected addition to this list. These snacks often contain fermented ingredients, such as barley malt or dried fruits, which can produce trace amounts of alcohol. This, combined with their dense, sticky texture, can leave residues in your mouth that are enough to impact a breathalyzer.
Consuming even half of a Clif Bar shortly before a test can lead to a false positive. While the alcohol content is far too low to affect your blood alcohol levels, it’s the mouth alcohol that breathalyzers pick up on.
7. Hot Sauce

Hot sauce isn’t just for adding spice to your meals – it’s also capable of influencing a breathalyzer test. Some hot sauces contain small amounts of alcohol as part of their fermentation process. While the amounts are minimal, the heat and acidity of the sauce can intensify the evaporation of these alcohol particles in your mouth.
This can cause a temporary spike in your breathalyzer reading, particularly if you’ve consumed a generous portion. The lingering spiciness in your mouth might make you more aware of the effect, but it dissipates relatively quickly.
8. Orange Juice

Orange juice might seem like the least likely culprit, but if it has started to ferment – even slightly – it can contain trace amounts of alcohol. This is more likely to happen if the juice has been left unrefrigerated or if it’s an older bottle nearing its expiration date.
Drinking orange juice right before a breathalyzer test can temporarily increase your reading. The natural sugars and acidity of the juice also make it easier for alcohol to linger in your mouth, further complicating test results.
How Mouth Alcohol Works

The key to understanding why these foods interfere with breathalyzers lies in the concept of mouth alcohol. Breathalyzers are designed to detect alcohol exhaled from your lungs, which accurately reflects your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). However, alcohol in your mouth from food or drink can artificially inflate these readings. The high concentration of mouth alcohol evaporates quickly, but in the short term, it can produce misleading results.
Why Timing Is Everything

Mouth alcohol doesn’t linger forever. For most foods, the effects last only a few minutes. However, products with higher alcohol content, such as mouthwash or vanilla extract, can take up to 30 minutes to completely dissipate. This is why law enforcement agencies often observe individuals for 20 minutes before administering a breathalyzer test. Ignoring this waiting period could result in inaccurate results and unnecessary complications.
Tips to Avoid False Positives

If you’re facing a breathalyzer test, the simplest way to avoid false positives is to be mindful of what you’ve consumed beforehand. Avoid eating or drinking anything with potential alcohol content within 20 to 30 minutes of the test. Rinsing your mouth with water can also help remove lingering residues. For those with ignition interlock devices, be aware that even common foods like bread or energy bars can trigger alerts, so retesting after a few minutes is crucial.
A Reminder About Context

While these foods can cause temporary false positives, they don’t indicate actual impairment. Breathalyzers are just one tool in assessing intoxication, and law enforcement is trained to account for possible inaccuracies. That said, understanding how everyday items can affect breathalyzer results empowers you to avoid unnecessary complications and ensures that tests are as accurate as possible.
Confusing the Technology

From honey buns to hot sauce, the surprising ways these everyday items can influence a breathalyzer remind us of the complexities behind these devices. While these foods won’t make you drunk, they can temporarily confuse the technology. Awareness and timing are key to avoiding false positives and ensuring you don’t face unnecessary issues. Next time you enjoy a sweet treat or freshen your breath, take a moment to consider how it might affect a potential breath test.
Effect on the Reliability of DUI Enforcement

How do you think the potential for false positives in breathalyzer tests affects the reliability of DUI enforcement? Should there be alternative or supplementary methods to ensure accuracy? If foods like honey buns or vanilla extract can skew breathalyzer results, how might this influence individuals with ignition interlock devices or those required to take frequent tests? Considering the prevalence of mouth alcohol, should law enforcement implement more rigorous waiting periods or testing protocols to avoid false positives? What challenges might this present?

Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.