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The Skyn, which measures a person's alcohol levels through their sweat. BACtrack

This wristband will warn you when you've had too much to drink

Skyn tracks a person’s alcohol levels through their sweat, and send alerts when they go over a certain limit.

A WRISTBAND WHICH TRACKS alcohol levels and warns you to ease up on your drinking has been created.

Skyn looks very similar to fitness trackers like FitBit and Jawbone but instead of tracking steps, it tracks a person’s BAC (blood alcohol concentration) by analysing their sweat.

It is not seen as a replacement for traditional breathalysers as it takes roughly 45 minutes for alcohol to be transmitted through the skin.

As well as providing data for researchers and clinicians, it could be used as a way of tracking a person’s drinking habits.

Some uses would include warning you to slow down your drinking when you approach a certain limit, or help keep a person sober by alerting a family member when the device detects alcohol in their system.

The device recently won a major health competition in the US which challenged participants to create a discreet device capable of measuring blood alcohol levels in near real-time.

Other products created for the competition included a colour-changing temporary tattoo called BioInk which does the same thing when attached to the skin.

NIHOD / YouTube

The device is made by BACtrack, a US company that makes breathalysers. It already has a bit of history with similar devices, having released Bluetooth breathalysers which transmit data directly to your smartphone.

The company is looking at releasing it as an official product and will be taking pre-orders for the device soon. The device will be available in “limited quantities” at the end of the year.

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25 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute david dickson
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    May 23rd 2016, 10:45 AM

    I don’t need that, the footpath will tell my face when I’ve had too much.

    347
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Skillington
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    May 23rd 2016, 11:41 AM

    My watch tells me the same thing..when I see four faces on it, I’m langers!

    112
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Assel Dannourah
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    May 23rd 2016, 12:37 PM

    Who needs wives and gfs now

    69
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Del Haven
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    May 23rd 2016, 12:46 PM

    You’re in the pub, someone offers you a pint, you check your alcowatch, too drunk, you take it anyway.

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adrian
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    May 23rd 2016, 1:24 PM

    Useless unpractical invention!

    25
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    Mute Myk_Oval_Balls_nRyt
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    May 23rd 2016, 5:02 PM

    So true, alcowatch says ‘pls stop’…..’fxck you watch’ downs jameson and orders another out of spite because of that Irish temperament.

    29
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    Mute See My Vest
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    May 23rd 2016, 10:44 AM

    I know what every long suffering husband will be getting for Christmas

    65
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    Mute Right Human
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    May 23rd 2016, 10:51 AM

    If the battery runs out they will give you a replacement wristband in the hospital. In other words I hope people aren’t stupid enough to depend on these things.

    55
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    Mute John Reese
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    May 23rd 2016, 11:17 AM

    Irish drink driving law’s are among the most strict int he world so even one drink can put you over. no need for the band. Wait for the self driving car’s….the rural pub will flourish again.

    52
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    Mute the asian nightmare
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    May 23rd 2016, 11:50 AM

    Put one on there, it flashed up ‘every Saturday since you were 16′.

    49
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    Mute tk0CXKzL
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    May 23rd 2016, 12:48 PM

    *wristband beeps*…………. continues drinking anyway.

    46
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    Mute the asian nightmare
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    May 23rd 2016, 1:28 PM

    Challenge Accepted!

    27
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    Mute Wayne Kelly
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    May 23rd 2016, 10:59 AM

    Won’t need it
    That’s the other half’s occupation.

    46
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    Mute The Guru
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    May 23rd 2016, 11:19 AM

    Are they gutter-proof?

    29
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    Mute whereisspace
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    May 23rd 2016, 10:44 AM

    Clever.

    25
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    Mute leartius
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    May 23rd 2016, 11:37 AM

    its the only bit of technology that should be given to a politician. Bluetooth setup in the dail bar and in both debating chambers would give us an indication how drunk everyone is when debating legislation and when voting. you could include simple helpful message. Slow down on the pints minister you have xxx many days of free beer left. If only one could be invested for lotto numbers.

    19
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    Mute Sarah Ennis
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    May 23rd 2016, 11:00 AM

    HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH THOUGH.

    13
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    Mute Deirdre Dee Harkin Flannelly
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    May 23rd 2016, 10:49 AM

    In every teenager’s Christmas stocking this year I hope.

    13
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    Mute Mike O Connor
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    May 23rd 2016, 1:26 PM

    And why would I want that

    11
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    Mute Derek Lyster
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    May 23rd 2016, 1:33 PM

    Talking complete tripe is usually a good sign gor me

    11
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    Mute Breda Jennings
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    May 23rd 2016, 1:34 PM

    I could have done with this at the weekend

    6
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    Mute Mondoburley
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    May 23rd 2016, 4:39 PM

    Eh it will not!!

    3
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    Mute GerryCummins
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    May 23rd 2016, 8:36 PM

    I have one already, its called the wife !!!!

    2
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    Mute Rock Stoneballs
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    May 23rd 2016, 1:43 PM

    Ah that is so cool!

    2
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    Mute Fjordie
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    May 23rd 2016, 9:28 PM

    So you’ve got 45 minutes after finishing your pint to drive home!!

    1
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