Synthahol

[kevinthenerd]

In Star Trek, nobody (in TNG or later) drank alcohol because of its effects on the body. Instead, they drank "synthahol," which tasted a bit like alchohol (but not to Scotty).

I picked up some off-brand Sangria-flavored soda at a dollar store, and I swear there's a little artificial alcohol taste to it. I looked through the label and couldn't figure out what caused it.

Is there a modern-day synthahol? Wouldn't it be cool if they added it to non-alcoholic drinks (like O'Douls)?

 

[chcarnage]

Pure alcohol only tastes hot. But there's already a variety of artificial flavors to imitate the taste of specific liquors. P.e. I can buy alc-free punch concentrate with rum flavor. But I don't think there's one molecule that could replace alcohol everywhere.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: chcarnage
Pure alcohol only tastes hot.

What??? I doubt it. Alcohol has a very distinctive odor and smell.

I can even smell the differences between various types of alcohol (methanol, isopropanol, ethanol). I can also smell the differences in the various grades of gasoline available and even what brand it is, but I certainly don't claim to have a good overall sense of smell.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd
...but I certainly don't claim to have a good overall sense of smell.

Yes you do.

 

[gsellis]

I would suspect that Synthahol would have the following criteria:

1) No organ damage.
2) Be reversible (take a pill - instant sober).
3) No hang over.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: gsellis
I would suspect that Synthahol would have the following criteria:

1) No organ damage.
2) Be reversible (take a pill - instant sober).
3) No hang over.

You didn't watch Star Trek? #2 doesn't apply... it doesn't make you drunk to begin with.

From a modern practical standpoint, I think a synthahol would be useful for recovering alcoholics who crave the taste of alcohol. Once that connection is broken (between the taste of alcohol and the chemical fix of alcohol) I suspect it would be easier for them.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: gsellis
I would suspect that Synthahol would have the following criteria:

1) No organ damage.
2) Be reversible (take a pill - instant sober).
3) No hang over.

You didn't watch Star Trek? #2 doesn't apply... it doesn't make you drunk to begin with.

From a modern practical standpoint, I think a synthahol would be useful for recovering alcoholics who crave the taste of alcohol. Once that connection is broken (between the taste of alcohol and the chemical fix of alcohol) I suspect it would be easier for them.

Never saw the episode where they were drinking it by the bottle... (hint, there wasn't one). I saw those Ten Forward episodes. And Romulan Ale is NOT made with synthahol.

 

[jdini76]

if it doesn't get you drunk, or affect you in anyway, then whats the point? I guess to the conesour it would be for the taste, but I for one, drink alcohol for the affect, not taste. Taste is just a benefit...if its good.

 

[Beattie]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: gsellis
I would suspect that Synthahol would have the following criteria:

1) No organ damage.
2) Be reversible (take a pill - instant sober).
3) No hang over.

You didn't watch Star Trek? #2 doesn't apply... it doesn't make you drunk to begin with.

From a modern practical standpoint, I think a synthahol would be useful for recovering alcoholics who crave the taste of alcohol. Once that connection is broken (between the taste of alcohol and the chemical fix of alcohol) I suspect it would be easier for them.

I dont think alcoholics drink because they like the TASTE of alcohol...

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: gsellis

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: gsellis
I would suspect that Synthahol would have the following criteria:

1) No organ damage.
2) Be reversible (take a pill - instant sober).
3) No hang over.

You didn't watch Star Trek? #2 doesn't apply... it doesn't make you drunk to begin with.

From a modern practical standpoint, I think a synthahol would be useful for recovering alcoholics who crave the taste of alcohol. Once that connection is broken (between the taste of alcohol and the chemical fix of alcohol) I suspect it would be easier for them.

Never saw the episode where they were drinking it by the bottle... (hint, there wasn't one). I saw those Ten Forward episodes. And Romulan Ale is NOT made with synthahol.

Remember the episode of TNG where they found Scotty stuck in a transporter buffer?

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: Beattie

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: gsellis
I would suspect that Synthahol would have the following criteria:

1) No organ damage.
2) Be reversible (take a pill - instant sober).
3) No hang over.

You didn't watch Star Trek? #2 doesn't apply... it doesn't make you drunk to begin with.

From a modern practical standpoint, I think a synthahol would be useful for recovering alcoholics who crave the taste of alcohol. Once that connection is broken (between the taste of alcohol and the chemical fix of alcohol) I suspect it would be easier for them.

I dont think alcoholics drink because they like the TASTE of alcohol...

You missed the point. They associate the taste with the effects on the body. If it didn't have a taste, their brains wouldn't know that that's what they're looking for. Recognition of the substance of addiction is quite important.

Imagine if Pavlov got his dog hooked on booze. Imagine that he got him trained so that he'd get a bowl full of beer ready every time he rang the bell. Now, when he rings the bell, the dog is expecting alcohol, right?

When an alcoholic smells alcohol, tastes alcohol, or sees alcohol, wouldn't it trigger similar reactions in the mind? But, if the stimulus of taste no longer results in alcohol to satisfy the addiction, then wouldn't that stimulus be removed so that an alcoholic can smell the real stuff without getting all worked up about it? If you can somehow trick an alcoholic to think that what he's drinking is the real stuff, he might tire of it and be more likely to give it up, assuming they can get past the DTs.

 

[chcarnage]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: chcarnage
Pure alcohol only tastes hot.

What??? I doubt it. Alcohol has a very distinctive odor and smell.

I can even smell the differences between various types of alcohol (methanol, isopropanol, ethanol). I can also smell the differences in the various grades of gasoline available and even what brand it is, but I certainly don't claim to have a good overall sense of smell.

First, we only drink one kind of alcohol anyway (Ethanol).

Second, if it was really that evident that alcohols differ in taste, there wouldn't be a few unlucky fellows every year who die of adulterated hard liquors that contained Methanol.

Ok I've never tasted Methanol and maybe it's their own fault that they die, but alcohols are fairly simple molecules so I'm convinced they have simple tastes (Perfume molecules typically are very complex). Chemists or biologists may comment this, please. :wine:

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: chcarnage

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: chcarnage
Pure alcohol only tastes hot.

What??? I doubt it. Alcohol has a very distinctive odor and smell.

I can even smell the differences between various types of alcohol (methanol, isopropanol, ethanol). I can also smell the differences in the various grades of gasoline available and even what brand it is, but I certainly don't claim to have a good overall sense of smell.

First, we only drink one kind of alcohol anyway (Ethanol).

Second, if it was really that evident that alcohols differ in taste, there wouldn't be a few unlucky fellows every year who die of adulterated hard liquors that contained Methanol.

Ok I've never tasted Methanol and maybe it's their own fault that they die, but alcohols are fairly simple molecules so I'm convinced they have simple tastes (Perfume molecules typically are very complex). Chemists or biologists may comment this, please. :wine:

I use pure methanol to clean stuff at work, and I've used isopropanol to clean minor cuts. While medical ethanol is denatured with acetone when it's in a bottle you can pick up at the local pharmacy, it's in after shaves, liquors, and enough other stuff to have enough exposure to the common smell.

When you taste things, you're really just using your sense of smell combined with basic sensations. The two senses are so linked that things usually taste how they smell, so I'm figuring these alcohols have different flavors too. I haven't tried methanol; I prefer to keep my vision and health.

 

[The Batt?sai]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: gsellis
I would suspect that Synthahol would have the following criteria:

1) No organ damage.
2) Be reversible (take a pill - instant sober).
3) No hang over.

You didn't watch Star Trek? #2 doesn't apply... it doesn't make you drunk to begin with.

From a modern practical standpoint, I think a synthahol would be useful for recovering alcoholics who crave the taste of alcohol. Once that connection is broken (between the taste of alcohol and the chemical fix of alcohol) I suspect it would be easier for them.

so its almost similar in idea to nicotine patches?

 

[tjaisv]

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: Beattie

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: gsellis
I would suspect that Synthahol would have the following criteria:

1) No organ damage.
2) Be reversible (take a pill - instant sober).
3) No hang over.

You didn't watch Star Trek? #2 doesn't apply... it doesn't make you drunk to begin with.

From a modern practical standpoint, I think a synthahol would be useful for recovering alcoholics who crave the taste of alcohol. Once that connection is broken (between the taste of alcohol and the chemical fix of alcohol) I suspect it would be easier for them.

I dont think alcoholics drink because they like the TASTE of alcohol...

You missed the point. They associate the taste with the effects on the body. If it didn't have a taste, their brains wouldn't know that that's what they're looking for. Recognition of the substance of addiction is quite important.

Sweetened alcoholic beverages like wine coolers and mixed drinks often don't have a very noticeable alcoholic taste. It's therefore the effects that do most to reveal the drink's intoxicating power to the drinker and drive the alcoholic's addiction. Just like a drug.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: tjaisv

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: Beattie

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: gsellis
I would suspect that Synthahol would have the following criteria:

1) No organ damage.
2) Be reversible (take a pill - instant sober).
3) No hang over.

You didn't watch Star Trek? #2 doesn't apply... it doesn't make you drunk to begin with.

From a modern practical standpoint, I think a synthahol would be useful for recovering alcoholics who crave the taste of alcohol. Once that connection is broken (between the taste of alcohol and the chemical fix of alcohol) I suspect it would be easier for them.

I dont think alcoholics drink because they like the TASTE of alcohol...

You missed the point. They associate the taste with the effects on the body. If it didn't have a taste, their brains wouldn't know that that's what they're looking for. Recognition of the substance of addiction is quite important.

Sweetened alcoholic beverages like wine coolers and mixed drinks often don't have a very noticeable alcoholic taste. It's therefore the effects that do most to reveal the drink's intoxicating power to the drinker and drive the alcoholic's addiction. Just like a drug.

Going back to the applications of what was learned with Pavlov's dog...

I saw a video in my psychology class (four years ago... I feel old) where they weened a guy off of smoking crack by slowing adjusting him to the things that stimulate him. Things used to trigger his cravings, such a large wad of cash or being near a pipe, etc. Eventually, through exposure of things surrounding the drug use without actual use of the drug, his brain learned to ignore the things that triggered the more intense cravings, making it a little easier for him to try to give it up. His final step was to prepare a bong and put the thing in his mouth without inhaling, which would have taken divine levels of self control without the slow adjustment to it.

They do similar to things to people who are afraid of spiders and whatnot. They start slow, like mentioning the word "spider" and drawing up mental images through description. They then move on to pictures of spiders and exposure at a distance. The last step is to just about play with the spider. Gradual adjustment makes it possible.

Learning to ignore something is one of the simplest forms of learning.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: tjaisv

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: Beattie

Originally posted by: kevinthenerd

Originally posted by: gsellis
I would suspect that Synthahol would have the following criteria:

1) No organ damage.
2) Be reversible (take a pill - instant sober).
3) No hang over.

You didn't watch Star Trek? #2 doesn't apply... it doesn't make you drunk to begin with.

From a modern practical standpoint, I think a synthahol would be useful for recovering alcoholics who crave the taste of alcohol. Once that connection is broken (between the taste of alcohol and the chemical fix of alcohol) I suspect it would be easier for them.

I dont think alcoholics drink because they like the TASTE of alcohol...

You missed the point. They associate the taste with the effects on the body. If it didn't have a taste, their brains wouldn't know that that's what they're looking for. Recognition of the substance of addiction is quite important.

Sweetened alcoholic beverages like wine coolers and mixed drinks often don't have a very noticeable alcoholic taste. It's therefore the effects that do most to reveal the drink's intoxicating power to the drinker and drive the alcoholic's addiction. Just like a drug.

I can always taste the alcohol, but besides that, there's more to it. There are initial stimulations. You go into a bar or into a package store, and the familiar scene is taught to you as a consequence... bar=alcohol or ABC=alcohol. Then there's the bottle, with its familiar label. When you open it up, there's that familiar smell, and when it goes into your mouth, there's that familiar taste. All of these add up to help the addicted person stay addicted. All of these would be a tease if someone were to stop them short of that first sip. They're linked to the chemical that eventually enters the body. If these links somehow came up with no response (like chugging a bottle of Jack Daniels without getting drunk), then they'd eventually lose their meaning, and if the chemical response returned, they'd never know without trying again, but the self discipline required would be less.

Ok, here's a silly example... What if a young guy tries to give up masturbating, but he ends up finding a sexy movie while flipping through the channels alone?

Here's a better one: People crave food. We need food to survive. We've adapted to know when something will be good for us (i.e. have high calories for the upcoming famines). That's why sweet and fatty foods taste good to us. Our "addiction" to food isn't because we crave the rush in blood sugar. The smell and taste get us going. Would you eat incredibly healthy food if it tasted like cardboard, even if it raised your blood sugar and helped you feel full? I hardly think so, at least intially. It would take a while before you associate "cardboard flavor" with nutrition, but if you get hungry enough, it'll happen slowly.

 

[sciencewhiz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthehol