ScienceFocus.com

Hangover-free alcohol?

Hangover-free booze – the holy grail of the drinks industry – may have been discovered by researchers from South Korea.

The body uses oxygen to metabolise alcohol. The researchers at Chungnam National University found that when they infused high amounts of oxygen into a person’s alcoholic drink, their blood alcohol concentration fell to zero much faster than would normally be expected.

Unfortunately this approach wouldn’t eliminate your hangover entirely, and it’s unlikely to make much of a dent on a 10-pint binge. But, you would sober up more quickly, and reduce the length of your hangover.

One author of the study, Dr Kwang-il Kwon, wrote that widespread application of his research could help significantly help reduce alcohol-related incidents. Alcohol-related injuries currently cost the NHS £2.7 billon a year.

Highly oxygenated drinks are already available in Korea, and they’d certainly be welcome here. Who hasn’t said they would swear off alcohol after waking up on a Saturday morning with their head feeling like a pincushion?

But would there be a massive toll on our collective livers if alcoholic drinks no longer came with a penalty? We want to know what you think, let us know in the comments section below.

Read more:
 - Why do hangovers last longer as we get older?
 - Are the sulphites added to beer and wine bad for you?

 

Submitted by Daniel Bennett

Unlikely

Thu, 2010-03-04 16:01
Shadowwolf

I'd be inclined to say that it would make any difference on consumption, the current debilitating effects of excessive consumption do not seem to curtail over indulging as it is. A shorter a lesser punishment would perhaps be better in the long run. For instance if the effects of alcohol absorption are mitigated then far less would have to worry about being over the low limits on the following morning.

We are also well aware of the toll excessive drinking can take on the body, what you do after that is your own decision.

Highly Oxygenated Fun

Thu, 2010-03-04 12:15
Guest

Liver’s around the world are already turning in their soon to be graves at the prospect!

Hangover

Sun, 2010-06-06 14:39
Guest

Hangover free alcohol? I have never thought of such a thing but thanks a lot bringing this here and although I only drink a bit of alcohol here and there (and therefore don't encounter a significant hangover) but I still have to say that this idea is great. Some of my friends always get a terrible hangover so I hope the things that are written here are true, and who knows, maybe the bee pollen benefits will also help so let's hope for the best. One more thing that I think we can do is hope for positive innovations like pollen bee and I hope that we will make the world a better place.