Topic: Government Regulation
The Bourbon State Strikes Back A strange new product brings a legislative response in Kentuckyby rtbohan
(Libertarian)
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
When I first read the story about the latest regulatlion being considered by the Kentucky State Legislature, I thought it must be a hoax. A little research on the web showed me that it was not a hoax, and that there actually is a product--Alcohol Without Liquid (or AWOL) -which allows you to have all the fun of being drunk without actually having to drink anything.
The product is a machine which vaporizes alcoholic beverages and allows the user to inhale the vapors rather than actually drink it. This gets the alcohol into the bloodstream through the lungs rather than the digestive system and allows the alcohol to get into the bloodstream more quickly, and, according to the manufacturer, prevents hangovers and cuts your liquor bill. (http://www.awolspirit.com). The manufacturer claims that the machine will limit the amount of alcohol consumed, and will not prevent detection of inebriation through the use of a breathalizer, and therefore will not encourage either drunkeness of drunk driving. My own feeling is that the consumption of the same amount of alcohol by this means will actually lead to higher breathalizer results, since the alcohol fumes will pass throught the lungs twice. The manufacturer also includes a state from a British health official to the effect that the machine, "used according to directions" is no more dangerous than drinking.
The product has been available in Europe and Asia for several years, but now the company has formed a partnership with a New York corporation, Sprit Partners, Inc., to distribute the machines in the United States. Spirit Partners not only distributes the machines on a mail order basis, but has announced it intention to franchise distributorships in all fifty states. Interestingly, while AWOL produces single user and two party machines in addition to a multiperson party machine, ranging in price from $299 to $1765. only the single user model seems to be available in the United States at a price of $299 plus $15 shipping and handling.
This last fact concerns me quite a bit, since the target would seem to be solitary drinkers, who are by far more likely than social drinkers to be problem drinkers. In other words, the United States operation would seem to be targeting alcoholics.
That aside, I do not believe that many people will use the machines with the intention of becoming drunk. I believe that even most alcoholics do not relish being drunk; their problem is that once they take the first drink they tend to fall into a binge. Social drinkers, on the other hand, enjoy drinking and the relaxation of inhibitions which leads the drinker to believe that he and all his companions are incomparably witty and slip into drunkeness by misjudging their capacity. The illusion of wit is fun; vomiting, unconsciousness and/or arrest are not fun. In fact, I can think of very few of my acquaintances who would enjoy inhaling rather than drinking their alcohol. The major danger of increased drunkeness from the use of the machine that I can see is the removal of one of the built-in limitations to achieving inebriation that drinking provides. Even a 100 proof alcoholic beverage requires the ingestion of as much no-alcohol as alcohol, and stomach and bladder capacity are limited.
On the other hand, I can think of at least three possible uses by malevolent people which the machine would make easier. It is neither amusing nor enjoyable to be drunk, but watching other people in a drunken state can be. Using the machine to get a companion drunk is not only good for a little slapstick comedy but can provide a story about a companion's antics which can enliven many other gatherings.
Secondly, encouraging the use of the machine on the grounds that there will be no hangover can lead to its use as a substitute for the date rape drug.
Thirdly, a highway patrolman who is behind in his quota of DUII tickets could use the machine to create an instant malefactor.
I suppose some of these uses may have inspired the introduction of a bill banning AWOL in the Kentucky legislature. On the other hand, it might have been pressure from MADD, which legislators are notably suscrptible to. But I think the major factor was the spectre of massive unemployment in the state. Kentucky is noted for its distrilleries which produce 96% of all bourbon produced in the world. These include distilleries and brands we are all familiar with:Buffalo Trace (Ancient Age). Barton (Very Old Barton). Heaven Hills (Old Fitzgerald and J.W. Dant), Jim Beam (Jim Beam and Old Crow). Four Roses (Four Roses) Brown Forman (Early Times, Jack Daniels) Maker's Mark (Maker's Mark) United Distillers (I.W. Harper) and Wild Turkey (Wild Turkey). Few in Kentucky are willing to see a decrease in demand for the product of such an important industry through the introduction of a new machine imported from overseas.
To protect the economy, the state's Senate Judiciary Committe has reported out a bill to criminalize the sale, purchase or use of the AWOL machine. The legislature is expected to pass it. It will be interesting to see how this affects the campaigns of Senator Clinton and Senator Obama before the Kentucky primary. Will it be time to haul out their Ohio rhetoric and hail the salvation of high paying jobs? Will one or both be tempted to announce the enactment of a federal law similar to the Kentucky proposal, but with more severe penalties and possibly its own enforcement agency?
Don't bet against it.
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2008 rtbohan, all rights reserved.
Published: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Last modified: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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My buddy owned a bar and bought a AWOL machine + later a franchise, Its actually pretty lame - its tough to get drunk off this machine, you dont get a full shot in the nebulizer, half the vapor escapes (when your not inhaling the mist, i.e. exhaling and talking) which it is hard to talk with a inhaler in your mouth, And the kicker is it takes 20 min. to completly vaporize your shot. Believe me it takes way more time money and effort to get drunk this way, People get messed up much quicker just drinking normally. This machine slows down most people. Its like doing 2 shots an hour. You do get a little oxygen buzz and you can taste the subltle flavors in the shot your inhaling, which is the only cool thing you do get from this machine, but your not going to get wasted- if someone is looking to get drunk this is going to take way too long compaired to conventional methods, this hype about banning this machine is out of fear of the unknown and people spending money on vaporizing their shots (this money dosent make it to the distillers, plus it reduces overall alcohol sales and why they are against it of course ).
Thanks for the testimonial. I rather suspected the machine had those drawbacks and was joking about the malevolent uses. I think your conclusion is right on the mark.
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2008 rtbohan, all rights reserved.