Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Alcohol without the hangover – scientists are finding ways

wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

281–290 of 297 posts

Re: Alcohol without the hangover – scientists are finding ways

#281

Post by jebarker »

esafak wrote: post #269
jebarker wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not a chemist, so this may be false, but I've heard it's almost impossible to make NA drinks that are very similar to the real thing. The reason I heard is that whilst ethanol has no flavor itself it does enable/carry (whatever that means) interactions between other chemicals meaning there are flavors present that will never be there without ethanol. Would love to know if that's actually true...

I'm not a chemist either but I know that ethanol is a solvent, and has the ability to dissolve and carry volatile organic compounds. That is why cosmetic perfumes, and food additives like vanilla extract are alcohol-based.

Interesting. I wonder is some other less toxic solvent could serve the same purpose?

Re: Alcohol without the hangover – scientists are finding ways

#282

Post by kleiba »

larrysalibra wrote: post #213
kleiba wrote: post #186

Alcohol without the hangover? What an invention! Scientists are working on this. I mean, other scientists devote their lives to fighting cancer, AIDS, heart disease. These guys go, "No, I'm focusing on hangovers. Oh, sure, thousands of people are dying needlessly, but this, ptooey. That's gotta stop. You ever try and watch football the next day? It's almost impossible. I'm devoting my life to that."

Ha! Nice riff on Seinfeld’s seedless watermelon bit! https://youtu.be/ZB39jT0qq3Y

Geez, thanks! I was starting to think that I was the only one over 40 around here...

Re: Alcohol without the hangover – scientists are finding ways

#284

Post by Helmut10001 »

fileeditview wrote: post #76
Helmut10001 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really like Full Sail Session IPA, every time I visit the US I get some. Germany is really lacking behind this hole development, the beer is just very poor these days here.

What are you talking about? Even most common supermarkets have a small variety of IPAs and other craft beers. And even without them there are small breweries everywhere in southern Germany which have great "classical" beers..

If you are the lucky one who lives in 10% of Germany that has good beer (i.e. some areas in Bavaria) then that's good, all the remaining country is filled with the corporate crap that owns 99% of beer companies. In USA, there're many places that serve their own beer. Virginia and looking for good food? Just search for any local craft brewery and you found it. Many bars and restaurants in Oregon and California have their own brewery in the backyard. I find these beers so much more interesting.

Yes, I buy Brew Dog and Crew Republic because they are good, but I just wish there was a local brewery around the corner. I live in a city of 700000, it _should_ be possible if not all the other people were blinded by the big guys' advertising.

Re: Alcohol without the hangover – scientists are finding ways

#285

Post by Helmut10001 »

reaperman wrote: post #229
Helmut10001 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I really like Full Sail Session IPA, every time I visit the US I get some. Germany is really lacking behind this hole development, the beer is just very poor these days here.

Belgium produces many incredible beers that outshine American beers and should be easily found in Germany. I’m a massive fan of American beers but Belgium always gets my voice of support as well.

I can't tell - every time I see Belgium beer in Germany, it has >5% alcohol. I didn't find any Belgium beer with 2-3% alcohol here so far.

Re: Alcohol without the hangover – scientists are finding ways

#286

Post by reaperman »

Helmut10001 wrote: post #285
reaperman wrote: post #229

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Belgium produces many incredible beers that outshine American beers and should be easily found in Germany. I’m a massive fan of American beers but Belgium always gets my voice of support as well.

I can't tell - every time I see Belgium beer in Germany, it has >5% alcohol. I didn't find any Belgium beer with 2-3% alcohol here so far.

Ah, to be fair the weakest American beer I like here in the states is around 4.5% and usually well above 5%.

If you’re looking for the decent American lager style, I can see that being a bit more tricky.

Re: Alcohol without the hangover – scientists are finding ways

#287

Post by ffhhttt »

klardotsh wrote: post #274
ffhhttt wrote: post #251

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Clearly you’re bot talking about per capita harm?

I don't know about "per-capita harm" but based on some loose research and opinions of doctors, alcohol is overwhelmingly more harmful overall (to self and to society) than anything else. The next drug on the list is heroin but it's not even close, followed closely by crack, and then crystal meth is an extremely distant fourth place followed by cocaine. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/206300#2

Is that because alcohol is a magnitude or so more widely used than any of the other (hard) drugs we consider to be harmful?

That article is vague and I don’t think the overall methodology is that good, however it does say:

“ The most harmful drugs to the individual are heroin, crack and crystal meth “

if the same number of people who regularly consume alcohol chose to use crack instead.. well I bet the situation would be a whole lot worse.

Re: Alcohol without the hangover – scientists are finding ways

#288

Post by gcanyon »

rjh29 wrote: post #182
gcanyon wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I explain to people when I tell them I'm life-long sober, "My dad drank enough for the both of us."

That's a great line, think I'll use that! 父が私の分まで呑んじゃったので。

I love how you translated that! You're welcome to it, and I'm sorry about your father.

Re: Alcohol without the hangover – scientists are finding ways

#289

Post by thesz »

HWR_14 wrote: post #232
thesz wrote: post #137

My personal trainer once told me that athletes that become alcoholics belong to either endurance sports of various kinds or to archer or pistol shooting. The shooting sportsmen use small amounts of alcohol to reduce tremor [1], and small amounts of alcohol became bigger with time. [1] https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jhe1972/14/2/14_2_99/_p... The situation in endurance sports is very different. Very elevated cou…

There supposedly are some health properties for endurance athletes with the non-alcohol parts of beer. I think the German team brings non-alcoholic beer to the Olympics. If the alcohol doesn't bother them, I can see many athletes drinking a lot.

The same goes to red wine: resveratrol in wine lowers testosterone excretion through kidneys, testosterone, in it's part, helps body make more red blood cells that help with the endurance.

Re: Alcohol without the hangover – scientists are finding ways

#290

Post by yurishimo »

awelxtr wrote: post #254
yurishimo wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are US states with monopolies on liquor sales too. It’s not that bad. The plus side is they are usually very clean and don’t let people hang around all day. It’s strictly business and that’s a good thing.

Systembolaget is a pretty good shop. They offer a wide range of products and in the case of wines they tell you what kind of food the product goes well with

I've been there! I agree; pretty good store :)
Post reply on HN