Gone AWOL...

[replicant_008]

Alcohol snorting condemned
A new craze for inhaling alcohol was today attacked by medical experts as a potential danger that could cause brain damage.

Drinks including vodka and absinthe can be "snorted" into the nose or inhaled into the mouth through a tube using a new device known as an Alcohol Without Liquid (AWOL) vaporiser. Scientists estimate that the effects of the alcohol can be felt much quicker as it is directly absorbed through blood vessels in the nose or lungs - bypassing the stomach and liver.

Bristol bar Il Bordello became the first venue to offer its customers the device last week and owner Liz Lewitt said it had proved a hit with drinkers.

The inventor of the AWOL machine, Dominic Simler, claims this method of consuming alcohol reduces the effects of a hangover and is calorie-free.

Alcohol experts described the device as "diabolical" and warned that inhaling alcohol could cause serious brain damage. Professor Oliver James, head of clinical medical sciences at Newcastle University, said: "By snorting the alcohol it can go directly into the brain without being filtered by the liver".

"What is getting into your brain could be the equivalent of many times more than by drinking it.

"This will not only make you very drunk very quickly but is also likely to increase the risk of direct alcohol damage to the brain. This could do irreversible damage to nerves, lead to swelling and possibly lead to dementia in the long term."

He said people may also be able to inhale alcohol for 20 minutes, get drunk, drive and still be able to pass a police breathalyser test as alcohol levels in the blood remained very low.

The British automobile association said AWOL would have to be treated like drugs and be subject to rules making it illegal to drive with impaired abilities.

Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA Motoring Trust, said: "The law doesn't just say you must not be over the legal limit; it says you must not drive when you are impaired."

Mr Simler, 29, from London, said no one should drive after consuming alcohol but refuted claims that the device posed a danger to health.

"There is a built-in safety device as it takes about one hour to inhale one shot of alcohol. It is hardly something people are going to get very drunk on," he said.

"It is designed to allow people to enjoy the effects of alcohol mixed with oxygen. It promotes a sense of well being and a mild euphoria. It is a fun new legal way to take alcohol."

(Rep's note: I can get a sense of well being and a mild euphoria from 20 minutes on my bike and having a cold beer afterwards...)
Mr Simler adapted the vaporiser from oxygen machines used for aromatherapy and exercise purposes.

The alcohol vapour is created by pouring a spirit into a diffuser capsule connected to an oxygen pipe. The oxygen bubbles are then passed through the capsule, absorbing the alcohol, before being inhaled through a tube.

Mr Simler estimated that he had sold about 50 machines, at STG1,500 ($A3,600) each.

Bar owner Ms Lewitt said customers using AWOL would get "bored before they got drunk" as the amount of alcohol inhaled was so small.
She said she had been overwhelmed with bookings for the device, which is charged at a rate of STG6 ($A14.50) a shot.

"It is a novelty. People enjoy passing it around in a group. It takes that burning sensation away from the alcohol, allowing customers to enjoy the taste of flavoured alcohol."

(Rep's note - burning sensation? What burning sensation? Whisky warms me up in Winter but it don't burn. And if I wanted flavoured alcohol I'd drink a cocktail...)
Ms Lewitt said she had not seen anyone react badly to AWOL yet, but insisted the bar had a zero tolerance policy to bad behaviour.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald 17 Feb 2004

[Toksin]

I stopped reading once I found the bit in bold. Oh fuck.

[tonioseven]

Hmmmm.... where's my Vodka...

[jon@af]

Ya know, that makes me pose a question...who the fuck in their right mind one day decided "gee, I'm bored, lets snort alcohol through my nose." ? I mean honestly, anyone who thinks that up and actually does it DESERVES brain damage, because it obviously can't do too much more.

[Oz]

Gimme gimme gimme.

[ac427cpe]

wow, that's crazy stuff... i have a friend who drank a strawberry milkshake up her nose... wonder what that did to her brain!

[publicenemy137]

next thing you know people are going to inject alcohol into their right temple veins, getting you instantly drunk fast, and directly causing the destruction of your brain

[TheNotoriousMogg]

Originally Posted by ac427cpe

wow, that's crazy stuff... i have a friend who drank a strawberry milkshake up her nose... wonder what that did to her brain!

[primera man]

Makes for some interesting reading !!!

[BP2K2Max]

Originally Posted by J_Swigz

Ya know, that makes me pose a question...who the fuck in their right mind one day decided "gee, I'm bored, lets snort alcohol through my nose." ? I mean honestly, anyone who thinks that up and actually does it DESERVES brain damage, because it obviously can't do too much more.

the same person who said "hey this little green plant smells funny... lets smoke it!" or the guy who said "hey i dare you to eat one of the mushrooms growing under that pile of cowshit". it's all gotta start somewhere.

[YogsVR4]

If the next fad is alcohol suppositories, I'm going to advocate summary executions.

[jon@af]

Originally Posted by BP2K2Max

the same person who said "hey this little green plant smells funny... lets smoke it!" or the guy who said "hey i dare you to eat one of the mushrooms growing under that pile of cowshit". it's all gotta start somewhere.

Smoking a leaf-understandable, daring someone to eat a mushroom- very likely. Snorting alcohol? Dumbest. Idea. Ever.

[taranaki]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

If the next fad is alcohol suppositories, I'm going to advocate summary executions.

I'm all in favour of legalising every type of subtance abuse known to man,on a small and unattractive uninhabited island somewhere north of Alaska[when they tried this last time,it was a large and unattractive island in the South Pacific,and it was rather unfair on the Aborigines].

Give anyone found trading or consuming these stupid concoctions a one way ticket to the island,as as much of this poisonous and anti-social shit as they want,and let Darwin do the rest.

[Zcaithaca]

what next? shots of rubbing alcohol?

[jon@af]

Originally Posted by Zcaithaca

what next? shots of rubbing alcohol?

hehe, ever had Bacardi 151?