"Alkosint" will be a safe substitute for alcohol

David Nutt, a British scientist and entrepreneur, has developed a molecule that mimics the pleasant effects of alcohol, but does not harm health. In the coming years, "alkosint" can enter the market.

British researcher David Nutt is convinced that alcohol is more dangerous than many illegal drugs. However, instead of appeals to completely stop drinking, the scientist proposes to replace alcoholic drinks with a synthetic analogue. Nutt worked on its creation for several decades.

The researcher claims that a compound called Alcarelle has the same relaxing effect on the body as alcohol, but does not cause a hangover and does not harm health. The effect is achieved by acting on the same receptors that are excited by the use of ethyl alcohol.

Among other things, the “alcohol” does not allow a person to get drunk before the loss of feelings: after a certain level of intoxication, new doses simply cease to affect the body.

Nutt intends to commercialize his development, and therefore does not provide details about the structure of the molecule, nor about the specific mechanisms of its action. He only emphasizes that the search for a suitable compound was very long.

Many experts are skeptical about the project "non-alcoholic alcohol" - in their opinion, Nutt gives out the desired for the real. However, Alcarelle has an increasing chance of getting to bars and shops. In November 2018, the project received funding in the amount of £ 20 million, which will be spent on bringing the product to market.

David Nutt and his business partner, David Orren, have developed a five-year development plan for alcosynta. First you need to conduct tests that confirm that Alcarelle is really safe and does not cause a hangover. The product must then be approved by regulators as a food additive or ingredient.

AlkoSint will have to overcome not only bureaucratic obstacles, but also fear of synthetic products, as well as long traditions of alcohol consumption. The main drawback of Alcarelle is the unpleasant taste that Nutt and Orren plan to disguise with natural flavors.

Analysts believe that alcohol producers will quickly put their “alkosynt” into service, just as tobacco companies began producing electronic cigarettes. This will help to cope with the decline in the popularity of alcoholic beverages, especially among young people.

David Nutt is confident that if alcohol had been invented these days, he would not have been tested for compliance with food safety standards. However, the scientist is not at all a furious sobriety fanatic. He loves low alcohol drinks and even owns a bar with his daughter. However, Nutt would like alcohol to have a safe alternative. He hopes that one day “Alkosint” will appear in his menu.

According to an international group of researchers, the craving for alcohol and tobacco is encoded in our genes. Team members found 566 variants of the genes associated with these bad habits.