Driving impaired? Wyoming doesn’t go down that road.

There are countless myths circulating in Wyoming that claim to help you sober up after drinking, but the truth is these “tricks” won’t lower your blood alcohol concentration* and they won’t help you beat a breath test, either.

*What is BAC?

It stands for blood-alcohol concentration. It represents the percentage of alcohol in a person’s blood, which, in turn, reflects how drunk they are. Checking an impaired driver’s BAC helps law enforcement determine whether the driver is too impaired to drive. Wyoming’s DUI laws forbid a person from driving or being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08% or greater; however, you can be arrested for any degree of impairment.

A Few Common Misconceptions

Chewing gum won’t refresh your BAC.

If you’ve been at a bar or a party, you might be tempted to pop a piece of gum or a mint to help cover the smell of alcohol on your breath. And while you might cover the smell, you won’t trick a breathalyzer. No gum, mint or food will prevent the device from detecting the presence of alcohol molecules in your breath sample.

A cold shower won’t water down your BAC.

The body metabolizes and rids itself of alcohol on a fixed schedule based on your age, weight and gender. So, taking a shower might tidy you up, but there is no scientific evidence that it helps rid your body of alcohol to sober you up.

Sucking on a penny won’t change your BAC.

We’ve all heard this one — the idea that copper and zinc (materials in a penny) causes a chemical reaction in your mouth that interferes with a breathalyzer reading. Nope! Breathalyzers measure the concentration of alcohol in a person’s breath. Besides, pennies taste terrible, and who knows where they’ve been!

If you’ve been drinking, it is always the safest and smartest choice to get a ride from a sober friend, use a rideshare service, or call a cab. The risk is not worth putting your life and the lives of others in danger.