Posted on 11/17/2005 11:52:35 AM PST by lilylangtree
CHARLESTON, W.Va.--West Virginia is doing away with high-proof grain alcohol citing safety concerns raised by college officials and others.
The state's Alcohol Beverage Control Administration has stopped stocking 190-proof grain alcohol at its warehouse, which provides all liquor sold in the state. Although it announced the ban Wednesday, it asked liquor retailers more than a month ago to pull the potent product from their shelves.
Agency officials said they are responding to concerns by college officials, law enforcement agencies and community groups about the alcohol, which at 95 percent pure is significantly more potent than other distilled spirits.
"If you just pay attention, you'll notice that people don't drink grain at a cocktail party," said Carla Lapelle, associate dean of Student Affairs at Marshall University. "They don't go into a bar and order grain alcohol."
Lapelle said she was unaware of any incidents involving grain alcohol among students at Marshall, which already bans all alcohol on campus, but she considered the move prudent.
West Virginia University spokeswoman Becky Lofstead applauded the agency's efforts, but she also could recall no specific episodes blamed on grain alcohol abuse.
At least a dozen other states ban or limit the sale of 190-proof grain alcohol. Neighboring Pennsylvania and Virginia, for instance, sell it only for medicinal or commercial use, and require a permit for its purchase.
The owner of a liquor store near WVU's main campus in Morgantown said the product was not particularly popular among students.
"People can get drunk on beer. Anything in high doses is going to be a problem," said Joseph Moser of Ashebrook Liquor Outlet.
Grain alcohol is "a decent mover, or it was," said Phyllis Hitchock, manager of classic Liquors in Huntington, Marshall's home. "But the biggest sale of it was for labs and stuff. "It's used as a cleaning solvent."
Moser said officials have begun distributing a 151-proof version of grain alcohol--the same potency as some vodka and rum already sold in West Virginia--through the state's warehouse.
Lofstead said 151-proof isn't as objectionable as the stronger version.
Lapelle added: "Of all the liquors, grain, especially the 190-proof, is purchased solely to get drunk on."
6) Apply mallet to head of the joker who thought the trick was a good idea.
I went to WVU and we used to have bath tubs full of grape and grain. Things must have slowed down or else the school officials aren't very observant.
I actually did do shots of Everclear in college once. That wasn't too bad, pretty smooth, actually.
Mexican sugar cane alcohol, on the other hand...that stuff's basically white lightning with a tax stamp. I got roped into shots of that a couple of times...
"Hey, Rich, how about a shot of vodka?"
"Yeah, sure..."
"Here ya go..."
*glugKHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!*
"What the...?"
Of course, after the first shot, that's pretty smooth too...or maybe your esophagus is under anesthesia at that point...
Shake the bottle with the cap on first.
As stupid as college students are today, this doesn't surprise me. Their new favorite pasttime is to drink liquor until they pass out. We used to try to get women but not these guys.
Oh, the Leftists cut to the chase on that one with Roe v. Wade.
Hey, maybe now W.VIRGINIANS will SOBER up and vote OUT Senator Byrd?
I like your comment and your tag line. Good work!!!!!!
You've given me some early Christmas cheer!!!
"Apply mallet to head of the joker who thought the trick was a good idea."
he was too busy applying ice, ointment and gauze to his thumb
A West Virginian walks into a hardware store and asks for a chain saw that will cut 6 trees in one hour. The salesman recommends the top of the line model. The West Virginian is suitably impressed, and buys it. The next day he brings it back, complaining that it would only cut down 1 tree and it took ALL DAY! The salesman takes the chain saw, starts it up to see what's wrong, and the West Virginian says, "What's that noise?
no more legal moonshine? ........where is Junior Johnson when we need him?
Hiram, there's this wonderful technical advance called the fuse...
The moon is not shining so bright in West VA.
Or as an alternative fuel source.
Actually, in Morgantown, WV grain alcohol is know to make couches catch fire.
Never, ever pour Everclear into a styrofoam cup.
Everclear was popular when I was in college, but it was terrble to drink straight. We usually made a punch with it. It contributed to much puking!
"Hiram, there's this wonderful technical advance called the fuse..."
Yeah, but that would have required to much thought process and coordination. Remember, the bottle was almost empty. I had all I could handle just figuring out the lighter.
Thanks I am so not going to show your instructions to my 22 yo son or my 62 yo brother both love to blow up things just for a laugh....who am I kidding they probably already know how to do this...LOL
Grain alcohol and rainwater, Mandrake. Have whatever you like.
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