Alcohol in mouthwashes

Executive Summary

Article in the Dec. 22/29 Journal of the American Medical Association observes that breath alcohol values attained following mouthwash use do not pose a "realistic threat" to the "accuracy of blood alcohol levels by breath analysis." Jack Modell, MD, University of Alabama, et al. determined, however, that "use of mouthwash immediately prior to breath testing" may "significantly increase the measured" breath alcohol values. Ten subjects who used Listerine (29.6% alcohol), Scope (18.9%) and Lavoris (6%) were tested