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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Galluccio fails random alcohol test, blames toothpaste
2009-12-24
State Sen. Anthony D. Galluccio has failed random alcohol tests - blaming his toothpaste - while on home confinement less than a week after pleading guilty to a hit-and-run crash in Cambridge.

A judge could rule as early as tomorrow if the Cambridge Democrat should be sent to jail for violating terms of his sentencing.

Galluccio pleaded guilty Friday to an Oct. 4 hit-and-run accident that injured two people, including a 13-year-old boy.


He vowed to stay off booze, but the Herald has learned he failed random alcohol tests given at his home.

Galluccio admitted today in a statement he failed Breathalyzer tests blowing "low level positive reads over the course of an hour."

He blamed the positive readings on his choice of toothpaste.

"After discussing it with a physician, we have determined that is the result of my using two toothpastes - Colgate Total Whitening and Sensodyne Toothpaste, both of which contain sorbitol," Galluccio added. "While I knew that mouthwash or cold medicine would set the machine off, it did not occur to me that toothpaste would."
Bloody nonsense. Sorbitol is a humectant, in other words it keeps the toothpaste from drying out by holding onto the water in the toothpaste formula. Sorbitol is used in children's toothpastes as well as adult toothpastes, and the FDA would never permit anything mind-altering to be added to an over-the-counter product for children. Now if it were mouthwash, that would be another story -- many are quite high in alcohol, and are a favourite of closet alcoholics. I'm quite, quite certain Mr. Galluccio's physician does not have the training to have an opinion on the matter -- he would have been better off calling the 800-number to find the answer... or asking a convenient pharmacist. As the pharmacists like to say, "Doctors know diseases; pharmacists know medicines."

I'd bet big money the Colgate-Palmolive and Sensodyne companies will have statements out no later than Boxing Day explaining there is no risk of alcohol absorption from their products. Perhaps to be followed by a similar statement from the FDA in due course. This is exactly the kind of thing they have in-house lawyers and science staffs to handle.
Posted by:Fred

#12  what toothpaste, my toothpaste comes intermixed with Scope mouthwash,

I'm quite certain the manufacturer didn't add enough Scope to trigger a breathalyzer, Redneck Jim. Had they added that much, the extra fluid would have overloaded the binders, causing the paste to glop out of the tube instead of forming a nice round ribbon on your toothbrush. The manufacturer would never send out a toothpaste that misbehaved, and the FDA would never allow an alcohol level high enough to be detectable on the breath following brushing. I spent an interesting couple of years dealing with all that, in a previous stage of life.
Posted by: trailing wife   2009-12-24 23:51  

#11  I thought the Breathalyzer tested for higher than usual CO2/O2 ratios or something like that, not alcohol vapor.
Posted by: gorb   2009-12-24 23:28  

#10  Lying Crapweasel was a given seeing his vocation, location, and party affiliation.
Posted by: abu do you love   2009-12-24 22:15  

#9  "He blamed the positive readings on his choice of toothpaste."

What a crock of crap.

Try "blaming" it on likker, Anthony - at least we'd respect your honesty.

Lying crapweasel. >:-(
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-12-24 21:39  

#8  My solution... Gumitol! PULL ALL OF HIS TEETH in one extended setting without benefit of anesthesia!

As someone that had to get dentures, and had 15 teeth extracted at on go during my final extraction and fitting, it ain't no fun even with anesthesia.
Posted by: Zenobia Elminert1941   2009-12-24 20:38  

#7  Don't forget Geritol. Or Vitameatavegamin.
Posted by: Eric Jablow   2009-12-24 20:09  

#6  Ummm, what toothpaste, my toothpaste comes intermixed with Scope mouthwash, and yes it's alcoholic, I've heard of (Desperate) alcoholics drinking Scope when Booze isn't available.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2009-12-24 12:20  

#5  Sorbitol sounds like a reasonable explanation.

My solution... Gumitol! PULL ALL OF HIS TEETH in one extended setting without benefit of anesthesia!
Posted by: Besoeker   2009-12-24 09:47  

#4  Who does this guy think he is, Ted Kennedy?
Posted by: Raj   2009-12-24 09:08  

#3  Sorbitol has been used in toothpastes and many other products as a humectant for at least thirty years that I'm aware of, and no doubt many more than that. Were there an issue with it causing false readings on breathalyzer tests, the evidence would have shown up long ago, ie an awful lot of upright citizens would be walking around drunk... which would be hard to miss.
Posted by: trailing wife   2009-12-24 07:25  

#2  There is a persistent urban legend that certain mints and candies can make someone test positive on a breathalyzer because of the "sugar alcohols" (like sorbitol) in the products. There is absolutely no proof that any of them can make your BAC reading higher no matter how much you consume.*

All his attorney is doing is giving this BS a novel twist. If he or she can convince one scientifically illiterate and gullible person (either a judge or a juror), Mr G walks.

* - Scarfing down large quantities, though, could give you the runs. While that is disgusting, that also would not affect a breathalyzer.....
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie   2009-12-24 06:37  

#1  
State Sen. Anthony D. Galluccio

Favorite toothpaste: Colgate Total Whitening and Sensodyne Toothpaste

Favorite Mouthwash: The Glenlivet 12 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml bottle.
Posted by: Angush Protector of the Poles2341   2009-12-24 05:19  

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