The Welshman Who Invented the Electric Breathalyser

Did you know that the first handheld electronic breathalyser was invented by a Welshman? You might want to put down your drink for this one.

Who Was Tom Parry Jones?

It was invented by none other than Tom Parry Jones, who was born in Carreglefn, Ynys Môn, on 27 March 1935. Parry Jones would grow to be a scientist, inventor and entrepreneur.

It was following the Road Safety Act 1967, which introduced the first legally enforceable maximum blood alcohol level for drivers in the UK, that Parry Jones, with his Lion Laboratories in Caerdydd (Cardiff), would delve deeper into the topic of breathalysers and their modernisation.

By 1969, Lion Laboratories had invented the Alcolyser – a device which made use of crystal-filled tubes that changed colour (yellow to green) according to the level of alcohol in the person’s breath.

Parry Jones and Lion Laboratories continued developing the device further in the next decade and, in 1980, he won the Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement after developing the world’s first hand-held electronic breathalyser: the Alcolmeter.

More from Welsh Histories

Welsh Histories is a Welsh history celebrating platform which looks to promote all aspects of Welsh history. Though we focus predominantly on native Welsh history, we do also share the non-native aspects from time to time. You can follow us on Facebook; Instagram or Twitter for more. You can also support us as a member of our Patreon community. A reader? We also have our very own Welsh Histories Shop where we sell our Welsh Histories Magazine. Diolch yn fawr iawn and keep enjoying Welsh Histories.

---