On Tuesday, September 28, the Suffolk County Legislature approved a resolution introduced by Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Huntington) prohibiting the sale, purchase and use of Alcohol Without Liquid (AWOL) machines, which recently hit the U.S. market. The device vaporizes a selected alcoholic spirit (such as rum or vodka) and mixes it with oxygen, which is then inhaled through the mouth or nose. The U.S. distributor of the AWOL machine promises users “the wildest way to party” and promotes it as “the ultimate party tool.”

Vaporized alcohol is absorbed through blood vessels in the nose or lungs, creating a quicker and more intense “high.” Because the alcohol bypasses the stomach and liver and delivers a potent “hit” directly to the brain, medical professionals claim that it increases the risk of brain damage. Addiction experts warn that the risk of alcohol addiction is also greater when alcohol is introduced to the body in this manner.

Anti-drunk driving groups are concerned that AWOL machines may put more drunk drivers on the road. As the alcohol is absorbed more quickly, the consumer may not realize how intoxicated they are and proceed to drive. In addition, since the manufacturer claims that vaporized alcohol eliminates hangovers, there are fears that more people will get drunk during the week under the assumption that they will still be able to show up for work the following morning.

“The AWOL machine poses real health risks and could lead to increased alcohol abuse, underage drinking and drunk driving,” Cooper said today. “Now is the time to end this new fad before someone gets killed.”

George Hacker, Director of the Alcohol Policies Project at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, stated in a letter to Legislator Cooper, “I want to commend you for your efforts to curtail the marketing and use of alcohol vapor devices and ‘alcohol without liquid’ machines in Suffolk County. Your legislative initiative is all the more important because state and federal governments apparently lack clear legal authority to regulate those new products. These machines clearly pervert the meaning of ‘social drinking’ by making inebriation the purpose of alcohol consumption. What other reason to deliver alcohol as directly to the brain as possible, bypassing the normal absorption process? I congratulate you on your efforts to put an end to this madness, and wholeheartedly support your legislative initiative."

Suffolk County is the first municipality in the nation to ban AWOL machines. “We are hoping that the passage of this legislation will ultimately lead to similar action at the state and federal levels,” Cooper stated.