A century later, current Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is one-upping Daniels, ordering the installation of breath-test machines on all ships and submarines, as well as on Marine Corps bases. One can only imagine how he will go down in naval lore.

According to Mabus, the breath tests are not intended as a crackdown measure but rather to help identify sailors who might be struggling with booze. The alcohol testing is part of a broader new Navy program designed to improve the physical and mental well-being of those having difficulty coping with the stresses of a decade of war.

“We are not telling you not to drink, if you are old enough,” Mabus told an audience of sailors and Marines Monday afternoon aboard the USS Bataan at Naval Station Norfolk. “We are telling you that it is important to keep legal, responsible use of alcohol from turning into a problem.”

The problem generally is not that sailors are showing up blitzed to work, Mabus said in an interview. It’s that alcohol is surfacing as a factor in a host of social and professional ills that are increasingly of concern to the Navy brass: sexual assault, domestic problems, suicide, even poor physical fitness.

Mabus said the Navy has a bunch of separate programs to address each of those problems, but decided that it needed to take a more comprehensive approach. “We’ve done a lot of good and pretty effective things, but they’ve been piecemeal,” he said.

By detecting those who show up to work with a drink or two still in their system — especially on more than one occasion — the Navy will be able to intervene and offer counseling before things escalate, he said.

All ranks are vulnerable, Mabus said. He noted that 13 of 20 commanding officers recently fired by the Navy admitted afterward that drinking was a contributing factor to their problems.

The Navy will take other measures to reduce or prevent unhealthy behavior. It will stop subsidizing cigarette sales on bases and increase smoking cessation programs, following a complete ban on smoking aboard submarines that took effect last year.

The Navy will also begin random testing for synthetic marijuana, known as Spice. (The service already has random testing for other drugs.)

But the biggest, and most visible change, will be the breath tests. Navy officials said between one-sixth and one-eighth of those reporting for duty on board will be automatically tested at any given time, though others will still face random testing.

The Navy already has breath-test machines on board submarines in the Pacific Northwest as part of a pilot program that is being expanded across the force.

Mabus made his announcement aboard the Bataan, an amphibious assault ship that returned last month after 322 days at sea — the longest deployment of any Navy ship in four decades.

In remarks to sailors, he acknowledged that the Navy and Marine Corps have already been stretched thin over the last 10 years. But he said the workload wouldn’t lighten up anytime soon. The U.S. military recently adopted a new strategy that will emphasize operations in Asia and the Pacific, a region where the Navy will play a predominant role.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/checkpoint-washington/post/navy-to-place-breathalyzers-on-all-its-ships/2012/03/06/gIQAIC4ZuR_blog.html

By Hannah Hess Virginia Statehouse News | 0 comments

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University is making space for a new vending machine which will dispense emergency contraception.

Students can now walk into a room inside the school’s health center, put $25 into a vending machine and buy Plan B, otherwise known as the “morning-after pill.” The emergency contraception will be available to anyone 17 and older, according to CBS affiliate WHP-TV in Harrisburg, Penn.

“We had some conversations with them and did a survey of the student body and we got an 85 percent response rate that the students supported Plan B in the House Center,” Dr. Roger Serr, VP Student Affairs at Shippensburg University, said to WHP-TV.

Plan B contains hormones which are meant to stop ovulation or prevent fertilization, according to CBS station KYW in Philadelphia. However, doctors caution that there is a risk of contracting an STD or developing infertility if people abuse Plan B as birth control instead of using it correctly as an emergency contraceptive, reports WHP-TV.

The medication can legally be sold to anyone 17 and older over the counter.

Serr hopes that the vending machine will make it more comfortable for students to buy the pills if they need them. He told WHP-TV that somewhere between 350 and 400 doses are sold to the school’s female population each year.

“It’s really there, the machine is really used for privacy if anything else if a person wants to come in,” Serr said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57372589/pa-university-installs-plan-b-vending-machine/

To order call (858) 740-1660

Cheers!

The Must-Have Fashion Item For the Heavy Drinking Set!
Here’s an interesting new way to make sure you don’t drive drunk. New Zealand designer Matt Leggett has invented a “breathalyzer jacket” which lets the wearer know whether they’ve had too much to drive. You simply blow into a nozzle in the collar and a sensor in the jacket’s pocket analyses your blood alcohol level. The results are displayed on lights sewn into the forearm of the jacket– the more lights that glow — the drunker you are! But Leggett takes the project quite seriously and says, “This project is designed to address the very real problem of driving under the influence of alcohol, something which is especially prominent within New Zealand culture. The lights will only glow for around a minute after the breath sample has been taken, enough time for wearer to process the information without becoming a walking light show. To the unfamiliar observer, the jacket’s function is a mystery.”

Last Updated Tuesday, Dec 29 2009 09:54 PM

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The Alco-Checkpoint “breathalizer machine for bars”

Joshua Noble set down his drink, walked up to a breathalyzer machine by the front door at The Mint bar on 19th Street, put in a dollar, grabbed a clean straw and blew.

“Woo-hoo!” the Bakersfield resident said when his blood-alcohol level reading came to .05 percent. “I’m legal to drive!” Then he returned to his drink.

Similar routines play out regularly at bars around Bakersfield as breathalyzers become an increasingly common fixture in bars here and elsewhere. Although the vending-type machines clearly state that they’re for “novelty use only,” patrons sometimes use them for informal sobriety tests — and occasionally, for games that actually promote excessive drinking.

This potential for misuse makes wall-mounted breathalyzers “kind of a double-edged sword,” said Silas Miers, a program specialist for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The devices are helpful if after using one people decide to call a cab for a ride home, he said, but if they promote drinking games, they have the potential to defeat the purpose.

Beyond that, the machines aren’t necessarily as accurate as police breathalyzers, and so they may give drinkers a false sense that they’re OK to drive, he said.

“These devices aren’t something that’s going to keep somebody from being legally arrested,” he said.

The San Diego company that sells the machines, Alco-Checkpoint, acknowledges as much. But owner Jonathan Ohana maintains that if they’re properly calibrated on a regular basis, the machines are accurate. He emphasized that users need to follow the guidelines printed on the machines, such as making sure not to drink or smoke for five to 10 minutes before use.

As for the drinking games, Ohana said he has heard of them, including contests to see who produces the highest reading. His position is that they tend to remind people how inebriated they are, reinforcing the message that they shouldn’t drive.

“I like to tell people that no matter what they’re (used) for … the undertone of don’t drink and drive is still there,” he said.

James Grasty, owner of DDI, a Bakersfield-based driving service geared mainly toward people who don’t want to drive after drinking, said he considered buying some of the machines to promote his business. Although he ultimately decided against that, he does own a personal breathalyzer that he and his friends occasionally use for fun to see who is the most intoxicated.

Grasty’s overall position is that the devices can be helpful or unhelpful, depending whether the user acts responsibly.

“Even though there is a warning on there,” he said, “it’s not going to prevent people from doing bad things.”

Back at The Mint, Noble recalled using one of the machines recently and learning that his blood alcohol level was well beyond the legal limit. Based on that information, he decided to call a cab — even though he lived only a few blocks away.

“The shots of Goldschlager probably didn’t help,” he said.

• ALCO-CHECKPOINT has been A LEADER in the distribution of breathalyzer machines for bars, restaurants and clubs! In business since 2007, Alco-Checkpoint would like to pass on our knowledge and experience to help you thrive! We offer consulting specific to our field that is unknown by competitors with less experienced salesman type employee’s.
• Each ALCO-CHECKPOINT has a premium grade bill acceptor that will not get jammed with dollar bills! A 99.9% bill acceptance rate. Most breathalyzer machines for bars use lower quality bill acceptors that may jam quickly in the environment they are placed.
• Made of steel and wall mounted, Alco-Checkpoint Breathalyzer Vending Machines are practically impossible to steal or damage!
• Standout, attractive colors to choose from and customizable labels: Cherry Red or Midnight Grey
• Alco-Checkpoint has training courses available that will certify you to use our equipment and provide you with helpful tricks and tips of the business! Inquire Now!
• Alco-Checkpoint Breathalyzer Vending Machines hold lots of straws (500-600 straws inside the machine), which is the most of any machine on the market, meaning less trips to each machine. Servicing your route only takes 5-15 minutes per machine, 1-2 times per month!
• Alco-Checkpoint’s Breathalyzer Machines for bars can hold between 300-500 dollar bills also limiting the amount of trips to each machine per month
• The alcohol sensors in our machines last longer than competitor models (approximately 900-1100+ uses) and are very affordable and easy to replace!  Only $80 Each!
• LCD screen to advertise for extra $$$ and/or a lot of surface area on and around the ALCO-CHECKPOINT that can be used as advertising space

You can trust ALCO-CHECKPOINT! Our experience and customer service is second to none! Your success is our success and we are here to guide and support you! Alco-Checkpoint will not just sell you machines and never be heard from again, we are only a call or email away! Breathalyzer machines for bars are our specialty and we have a unique and effective way of marketing them to business owners, so they will say yes when you approach them.

Just mention this blog post! Offer ends by 6PM PST.

Alcohol that a person drinks shows up in the breath because it gets absorbed from the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines into the bloodstream. Alcohol is not digested upon absorption or chemically changed in the bloodstream. As the blood goes through the lungs, a physiologically predictable amount of the alcohol will moves across the lung membranes and into the lungs themselves.

Once in contact with the air in the lungs, it evaporates and is exhaled. The concentration of the alcohol in the air in the lungs is directly related to the concentration of the alcohol in the blood.

The ratio of breath alcohol to blood alcohol is 2100 to 1 (and called the partition ratio), so the alcohol content of 2100 milliliters of exhaled air will be the same as for 1 milliliter of blood. The maths are simple from there and leads to blood alcohol readings expressed as a percentage of alcohol in the blood.

The partition ratio can vary between 1700 and 2400 depending upon the individual and local environmental conditions, leading to a breath analysis reporting either a higher or lower calculated blood alcohol reading.

Since it is a physiological response, the partition ratio can be raised or lowered by:

• Body Temperature: The widely used blood-to-air partition ratio of 2100 is based on a normal body temperature of 98.6°F. A higher body temperature of the individual will overestimate the actual BAC because of the higher volatility (or vapor pressure) of liquids like alcohol at a higher temperature. An elevation in body temperature of 1°C (1.8°F) results in a 7% higher value in the result since the air in the lungs will contain an artificially higher amount of evaporated alcohol. Therefore, a person with a body temperature of 100.4°F, and with an actual blood alcohol of 0.0935%, will register a value of 0.10% by the breath test. Be careful if you have a cold or the flu.
• Cellular Composition Of Blood: Blood contains suspended cells (e.g. red and white cells) and proteins, and is therefore only a partial liquid. The partition ratio of 2100 is based on an average cell volume 47%. Some of this cell volume is tissue, and at 47% cell volume, 81.5% of the blood volume is liquid in which the alcohol is actually dissolved. A person with a lower cell volume will have a falsely elevated blood alcohol level based on a breath test since the amount of alcohol in 2100ml of lung breath will be dissolved in a slightly higher amount of liquid, and hence have a lower concentration. Cell volume values range from 42% to 52% in males, and 37% to 47% in females. This variability will only have a small impact on BAC (ranging from -2% to +5%) so don’t rely on it in court.

In most countries the partition ratio is presumed to be 2100:1 unless the defendant presents evidence that his/her personal ratio should be reasonably be assumed to be significantly higher or lower.

Factors Affecting Breathalyser Accuracy

Breathalysers only estimate the BAC, not physically measure it, so several factors can cause the breathalyser to give either an artificially higher or lower reading. The most common are:

• Body temperature and blood composition as outlined above.
• Some breathalysers can’t differentiate between ethyl alcohol and other compounds of a simple chemical nature. Methyl compounds such as acetone and ketones can be present in the breath of diabetics and those taking dietary supplements, causing the breathalyser to over-estimate the BAC. Similarly vinegar can cause confusion with some of the older or dumber breathalysers. Envronmental substances in the vicinity of the breathalyser including compounds found in lacquer, paint remover, celluloid, gasoline, and cleaning fluids can also effect the reading in older breathalysers.
• Breathalysers assume that the alcohol concentration in the breath will be the same as in the blood, and that the breath is sourced from deep in the lungs, but the breath alcohol concentration can be increased by vomit or blood in the mouth, acid reflux, or simply having had a drink recently with alcohol residue from that drink still being in the mouth at the time of testing. Mouthwash or breath freshener often contain alcohol, so don’t use these in an attempt to disguise the smell of alcohol when being pulled over.
• Electrical interference from cell phones and police radios.
• By law, police breathalysers are required to be calibrated for a particular ambient operating temperature, and nearly all are. The problem comes in areas that experience cold winters – while the breathalyser may be calibrated for the correct outside temperature, if its taken out of the nice warm patrol car and used immediately it will not have had enough time to cool down to its calibrated operating temperature and will give an artificially high reading.
• Absorption of alcohol into the blood may lag actually drinking it by as much as 1-2 hours so even though you may have alcohol in your breath, if you’ve only consumed it recently it may not be in your bloodstream in the concentration that testing your breath indicates.

How can I sell my vending business route? 
We have written a simple step by step guide. You can sell your vending business quickly and get the asking price that you deserve. **We advise that you seek professional counsel when selling a business- such as a lawyer, attorney, certified public accountant, notary public.
**Many people are looking to buy a vending route for various reasons. Such as: just got laid off current job, wife needs a part time job, they need extra money, they just got a divorce and lost your job, they want to start a family owned business, etc.

Use this check list to help you successfully sell your vending business.
Whether you have a Vending Business consisting of these type of vending machines: Breathalyzer Vending, Snack, Soda, Coffee, Gumball vending route, Energy Drinks, Healthy Vending Machines, Bulk Vending routes, combo Snack and Soda for
small locations,  DVD vending machines and/or a massage chair route the steps are basically the same.

GATHER THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AND PUT IN NOTEBOOK-PRESENTATION FORMAT:

1) How long has your business been established?
2) Name of Company, were main office located?
3) Where are each of the locations? What Cities and Addresses? - What type of machines are on each location, and preferably how much revenue each machine generates per month. (Documenting each machine’s serial numbers, brand type, and mechanical specifics).
4) Grand total the Gross amount of sales revenue generated each month of all vending machines(The gross amount is the total amount of money collected before any expenses). The Net amount is the total amount of money left after expenses are deducted. Now calculate the annual (yearly) Gross amount of revenue and the Net annual $ amount of your entire Vending Business Route for sale.
5) Determine the Sale price. The national average rate to determine the sale price for a vending machine route is 70-100% of the Gross annual sales. (100% if all machines are 2 years or newer, with warranties- higher value).
Then Add on for extras such as established routes over 5 years; vehicles, cars or vans, Extra equipment like dollies, coin mechs, changers parts, vendible products and office supplies.
6) How long are you willing to “train” this buyer to run the business? This will depend on the persons experience in vending and how large the vending business route is. Plan on any where from 2 days to 2 weeks. Some buyers want to walk through all locations and view the machines and talk to managers before they buy. Some buyers don’t need the personal walk through, as long as all the locations are documented in your buy/sell agreement.
7) You can purchase or find a Buy/Sell Business Agreement online or at your local Office Max or Office Depot in the business for section. Then just fill in the blanks. You and the buyer then sign agreement and have a notary public stamp the document, just as you would when buying a car.
8) Buyer pays upfront for The Vending Business Route, by Money Order, or Cashiers Check. If you accept a Personal Check,wait for the check to clear the bank before you hand over the keys to the business. 

9) Now you are ready to Advertise your Route for sale online, in the newspaper or local magazine!