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."
Ah, yes. Good point.
Good times...
Safety tip of the day: Blow out the flame before you drink the shot.
Just check their thumbs for burn scars. That's a sure giveaway.
Those were the days....can't remember much of my early twenties thanks to that punch.
What the heck will they wash their oxycontin down with now?
"Wouldn't 190 proof qualify as an explosive?"
It certainly qualified as fuel in the old A/Gas class in drag racing.
We called it Whoosh! LOL!
In Morgantown on home football Saturdays, it's customary to drink the shot then light the flame.
I think that I used to use the stuff to clean off residual resin soldering flux from printed circuit boards that I was repairing. Never thought of actually drinking it, though...
Fraternities far and wide are in mourning.
The spud gun principle...
My favorite was 1 cup boiling water mixed with lots of flavored gelatin. Then add 3 cups of grain. 140 proof jello! Burns on the way down. Very dangerous stuff.
Probably comparable to MD2020, less the food color.
Funny thing is until roughly around August of this year beer above 6% ABV was illegal.
I can still taste the straight up shot of 151 I did back in the day.... not recommended.
Well put. I had the opportunity to interview David Boaz of the libertarian Cato Institute yesterday, and he made similar remarks regarding both alcohol and drugs.
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