Imagine a world where you can go out on Thursday night, drink as much as you want and still make it to your Friday 8 a.m. stats class without dealing with a hangover. Does it seem too good to be true? Well, soon it might not be, thanks to David Nutt.
Nutt is a neuropsychopharmacology professor at Imperial College London and the creator of Alcarelle, which is made of chemical compounds called “alcosynths”—they give you the same buzz your favorite mixed drink, without the hangover or dependency.
Nutt’s tried to patent a full 90 different chemical compounds that work like alcohol, with two tested on humans. The different compounds either give you that fun and free feeling that makes you a better dancer, or they alter your seratonin and dopamine levels to make you feel happier. They target the same areas in your brain as alcohol, but they’re not alcohol. Cool, right?
The best part about Alcarelle? It’ll eliminate blackouts. And not only does it save you from your hangover, but scientists are working on a feature where after a certain number drinks with Alcarelle, your brain will tell you when you’ve had enough because the drinks won’t be effective anymore.
Nutt told The Washington Post, “My ambition would be for my grandchildren to never be exposed to alcohol.”
With such positive effects, alcohol alternatives could change the way you party and function the next day. Now we just have to wait for Alcarelle to be looked at by other scientists and regulatory agencies like the FDA. Hopefully this potentially life-changing product will be hitting the market sooner rather than later!