by Claudia Bruemmer

KnowURLimit is a coin-operated commercial breathalyzer sold to establishments that sell alcoholic beverages, such as bars, night clubs, sporting events and other venues. These unique breathalyzer products are manufactured in China and distributed from Maryland in the USA. The breathalyzer is easy to install on a wall or countertop, offering the option to test a person’s intoxication level. It serves as a source of revenue for the bar owner and provides a safety service for the establishment’s customers.

The KnowURLimit Coin-Operated Breathalyzer features an easy to follow audible and visual guide, a 3-digit LED display showing the user’s calculated blood alcohol content (BAC), and a universal power supply for AC 90-220V. Its straw dispensing system is an inexpensive solution for bar and entertainment club owners, ensuring that each use is as sanitary as the previous one.

As everyone knows, it’s a crime for a driver to operate a vehicle while under the effects of alcohol or drugs. The offense is called driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated. It is illegal to drive with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) that is 0.08 or higher in the U.S., and drivers are considered to be alcohol-impaired when their BAC is .08 or higher.

While there has been a decline in the statistics on drunk driving deaths in the U.S. from 1982 to 2008, we still have entirely too many. The latest stats for 2008 indicate 37 percent of all driving fatalities were alcohol related (13,846 drunk-driving fatalities out of the total driving fatalities of 37,261). The state that has the most drunk driving fatalities is Texas (43% of driving fatalities or 1,463 deaths per year), and California is second (37% of driving fatalities or 1,198 deaths per year).

We asked Gregory Wilson of GW Enterprises, the product’s distributor, what made him decide to manufacture and distribute this product. “The company was started to help curb drinking and driving because of a few friends’ deaths (Nick Adenhart, the Angels pitcher) and it sponsors his charity,” said Wilson.

We were all saddened to hear of Nick Adenhart’s tragic death last year when he was out with friends after pitching a  great game for the Angels. Adenhart was a passenger in a car driven by a friend and accompanied by two other friends. Their car was hit broadside by a minivan that ran a red light, driven by a drunk driver with a suspended license for drunk driving. Three people in his car were killed, one survived. The driver and passenger in the minivan were not hurt. The driver was convicted on three counts of second-degree murder, two counts of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury, and one felony count of hit-and-run, in addition to driving on a suspended license. He is serving a sentence of 51 years to life. Such tragedies might be preventable with the availability of products like the breathalyzer.

From accounts of what happened prior to the accident, the two men in the minivan were drinking heavily in several bars before driving home in the morning hours. Products like KnowURLimit could help prevent such senseless acts and save lives. The KnowURLimit Coin-Operated Breathalyzer has the following specifications:

Audio: Pre-programmed audio messages via MP3 files
Visual: Attractive LED lighting sequence resembling a taxi cab
Coin accepter: Pre-programmed to user’s currency requirements
Alcohol sensor: Accurate to 0.01 or ½ of a standard drink*
Straw dispenser: Sanitary individual use straw dispenser
Test feedback: Visual and audio
Power supply: 110v or 220v available
Mounting System: Wall mounting L-bracket system or counter top model
Refilling method: Easy to refill straw dispenser and easy to empty coin box

Providing a KnowURLimit unit in a bar or at a sporting event allows people to enjoy a few drinks while providing the means to make an informed decision as to whether or not they should get behind the wheel. It is the first of several products offered by GW Enterprises catering to the alcohol vending industry. The purpose of the KnowURLimit is to provide value to the establishment’s owner and patrons by offering the option to test one’s intoxication level. The machine is designed to offer the bar owner a revenue-generating opportunity while providing a service to their customers.