Blood Alcohol Content Gauging Apps

Celebrate responsibly

Overview

A toast: "Here's to the apps that never fail, to measure your BAC and perhaps keep you out of jail. Some do it with zest, some do it better than the rest, some don't do much at all and therefore get ranked low in our AppGuide!" Ok, my toast slipped at bit there at the end, but with these helpful apps hopefully you won't be slipping too much during your next night out at the Regal Beagle. And if you are, you will at least be able to realize you need a ride home. Join me and my Molson Golden as we examine the best Blood Alcohol Content Gauging Apps. Please note that none of the apps in this review claim to be 100 percent accurate. Please use common sense when drinking and don't drink and drive.

Essential Apps

Free
Last Call

by Avvo, Inc.

Last Call is at the top of the list for BAC gauging apps due to its simple, easy to use interface and its clever display method. It features an automatically moving timeline that predicts when your BAC will peak based on your consumed beverages. It has many different types (and sizes) of drinks built in for you to select as well as a location-based taxi search in case you need a ride home. Another neat feature that hopefully you will never have to use is a list of nearby DUI lawyers.

Notable Apps

$0.99
Gauge

by Global Software Concepts, LLC

Gauge is a very good BAC app that uses a handy scrolling wheel system for the interface. It also attempts predict when you may be sober. However, it does have a few things against it: it only has three generic beverage types - beer, wine, and drinks. Also, you have to manually move the time counter as you drink throughout the night. This last issue will be addressed in a soon to come update that will have the app count the hours for the user after the initial time selection. The update will also allow for multiple people to be tracked at the same time and will include a notification system.
$1.99
iDrinkSmarter

by BACZONE Ltd.

iDrink Smarter is a very in depth, comprehensive BAC app that uses a unique "Green Zone" system that tries to "maximize the positive effects of alcohol" while "reducing the likelihood of experiencing drowsiness, hangovers and impaired judgement". The system uses popup notifications and advice on drinking carefully such as "maybe you should walk around a bit" if you have had several drinks in a close time period. It a solid app that provides you with a lot of good information, but it felt a bit too complicated and cluttered when compared to some of the more streamlined apps mentioned above.
Free
R-U-Buzzed? BAC Calculator

by ID345, LLC

This app, developed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (which is a really progressive, proactive effort on their part) uses an interface similar to that of Gauge. Unfortunately this means that you have to manually move the time as you drink throughout the night rather than have the app keep track of it for you automatically. It also includes a neat feature that gives you a narrative describing how you may feel or react at certain levels of drunkenness.

Decent Apps

$1.99
DrinkTracker Breathalyzer

by slappmedotcom Pty Ltd

Drink Tracker Breathalyzer, while being a bit of misnomer, is still a fairly robust BAC app. It allows you to have different profiles saved but only one profile can be active at any one time. It also contains a lot of good stats on your drinking session, but the interface is too cluttered to be ranked any higher.
Free
BAC-Calculator

by jxn interactive

Also using a scrolling wheel interface, and also only having three basic drink types, BAC-Calculator is a decent app. Once again, you have to manually move the hours as you drink but it does provide information describing how your behavior and impairment may change as your drinking continues.