Alcohol Hangover Breathalyser Pilot Investigations 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Alcohol Hangover Breathalyser including detection of breath alcohol metabolites using the SIFT-MS, Pilot Investigations 1
IRAS ID
243922
Contact name
Chris Alford
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of england
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Alcohol hangovers can have significant socioeconomic and health consequences that are often underestimated. A survey of Dutch long haul lorry drivers found that more than half reported driving whilst hungover, and that their driving was less safe than on non-drinking days. This has been backed up by driving simulator trials in the lab. which found that driving whilst hungover was similar to driving under the influence of alcohol. Therefore driving impairment due to alcohol hangover presents a public health concern. \nThe purpose of these preliminary studies is to find an easily detectable quantitative biomarker for alcohol hangover based on alcohol metabolites, preferably in exhaled breath, which is correlated with driving impairment, and can inform the future development of a hangover breathalyser. Development of such a breathalyser can reduce the amount of people driving when hungover, leading to a reduction in car accidents, and similarly for workplace accidents. Besides the potential use for assessing drivers, it might also be useful in different occupations, especially safety critical occupations with possible risks for others such as in operating machinery.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0106
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion