Can Science Make Alcohol Safer? (scientificamerican.com)

Long-time Slashdot reader Zorro was the first to spot this story. Scientific American reports: Could there be a "liver-friendly" vodka? One company claims its proprietary blend of additives reduces stress on the body... The researchers concluded that consuming the alcohol with the additives -- glycyrrhizin, derived from licorice; D-mannitol, a sugar alcohol; and potassium sorbate, a preservative -- may support improved liver health compared with drinking alcohol alone. Marsha Bates, a distinguished research professor and director of the Center of Alcohol Studies at Rutgers University, said the study design "seemed appropriate." But, she added, study itself was small, with only 12 healthy men and women, and "doesn't really provide any information of what the long-term effects of consuming alcohol with this additive would be. It's a positive preliminary study but certainly does not provide a firm basis for speculating about long-term impact."

Functional or not, Harsha Chigurupati needs approval from federal regulators before he can tout curative powers on a label... Specifically, Chigurupati is seeking approval to make the claim that his blend, known as NTX for "No Tox," provides "antioxidant and inflammatory support" and "reduces the risk of alcohol-induced liver diseases," among other claims... Chigurupati said his goal is not to enable people to drink more, but to drink with less physical harm.
The claim "leaves some experts deeply skeptical," adds the article, while 33-year-old Chigurupati admits that an earlier formula "tasted terrible and it actually burned my mouth." But his company later developed a formula which he says tasted good and is easier on the liver. "I don't believe in abstinence," Chigurupati told the Wall Street Journal. "What I do believe in is using technology to make life better. I'm not going to stop drinking, so why not make it safer?"

Comments

Re:All things in moderation.

[Kjella]

The only thing I see wrong with alcohol as it is today is misuse and over use. Perhaps what we need is a little more self discipline and self control. Have a glass of wine with dinner or a beer at the ball game but don't go nuts.

Except most people intentionally use alcohol to loosen up and it's a socially accepted explanation for your behavior if you happen to do something stupid or embarrassing. If people managed to let go of their inhibitions and worries on their own and they weren't judged by different standards they wouldn't need alcohol. For better and for worse I've done things under the influence of alcohol I'd never imagine doing sober.

Childishness.

[Gravis Zero]

If something is bad for you and you refuse to stop doing it despite the negative consequences then it's called an addiction. If you drink so much that you destroy your own liver then you have earned your liver failure because that is no simple feat as it require years of heavy drinking. The only thing doing this would accomplish is enabling addicts in their addictions in a way that will be a further drain on society. This is the wrong approach to solving the problem at hand.