Green Options » alcohol

Upgrading the College Diet: Saying Bye-Bye to Hangovers

Camille Rogers — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:16:23 +0000

The state of Wisconsin has long served as the national focal point of all things dairy. However, Wisconsin is also the epicenter of another American food culture niche, and that is alcohol.

My oh my, do people in Wisconsin love to drink. I live the capitol city of Madison and, at least once every weekend, I see snapshot of that state-bred love, either through an embarrassingly sloshed University of Wisconsin undergraduate or a too-tipsy townie. When I found out the actual statistics— that Wisconsin has the highest percentage of drinkers in the population and that, person for person, the state has three times more taverns than anywhere else in the country—I hardly blinked.

Still, I’ll admit that sometimes I find Madison’s hyper-boozing culture to be intimidating. At a lot of college parties, my three-drink limit is everyone else’s warm-up drill, and I’ve met more than a few Badgers whose Thirsty Thursday extends through Wednesday night. However, I’ve never tried to keep up with the crowd. I’m sure some of my peers think it’s lame that my personal bar time is midnight, and not two a.m., but I bet I look a lot cooler the next morning when I haven’t succumbed to their same fate: the head-stinging, stomach-churning, regret-inducing experience that is the hangover.

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Did Diet Coke Cause My Cancer?

Rhonda Winter — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:27:12 +0000

Recently I have been reading very disturbing research about how Diet Coke can possibly cause cancer and kill you. The artificial sweetener that is used in most diet beverages, aspartame, once ingested, becomes a lethal poison called methyl alcohol. Small quantities of this noxious substance can lead to blindness and death; even the most miniscule amounts of this aspartame toxin are strongly linked to cancer.

This is an image of the cancerous tumor that was recently removed from my body.

Micro-Organisms Can “Predict” Enviro Changes, Proving Basic Assumptions Wrong

Michael Ricciardi — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:15:58 +0000

Scanning electron micrograph of Escherichia coli

Using two different model organisms–the E. coli bacterium and the single-celled yeast–scientist have begun unraveling a puzzling behavior of many micro-organisms: the ability to “predict” a change in environmental conditions.

It has been assumed for most of the history of micro-biological science that such micro-organisms are purely “reflexive”; they simply respond and adapt to external stimuli (such as exposure to chemicals, heat stress, or drugs). But research over he past 2 years by two different scientific teams (a Princeton team lead by Saeed Tavazoie, and, a team from the Weizmann Institute in Israel) is shaking up present understanding and over-turning basic assumptions.

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Fetal Alcohol Disorders in ADHD Clothing

Cate Nelson — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:45:13 +0000

Many of you have followed–and been outraged by–the “breastfeeding while drunk” case.

But we all know that being drunk while pregnant is a gigantic “no-no”. A new study shows that fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are often misdiagnosed as ADHD. Both disorders have a number of similar symptoms: very limited attention, physical restlessness and extreme impulsivity.

But in some ways, FASD seems to be a bit more like another spectrum disorder: ASD. And now a study from the University of Toronto claim that we’re confusing disorders.

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Mother Charged For Drunk Breastfeeding: Details Emerge, and the Case Makes Less Sense

Cate Nelson — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:22:17 +0000

The AP reported Monday on the case of Stacey Anvarinia, the North Dakota woman who recently pleaded guilty to felony child neglect for breastfeeding under the influence. She could face 5 years in prison when she is sentenced in August.

As you may remember, the story emerged last week, and initially there were numerous questions lingering. Not to mention a lot of debate on whether alcohol consumption affects breastmilk and therefore the babies who drink it.

But now, a few more details have come out about this case, and it actually makes less sense. Grand Forks Police Lt. Rahn Farder commented on it:

This case is more than just the breast-feeding. It was the totality of the circumstances. It is quite unusual for a mother to be breast-feeding her child as we are conducting an investigation, whether she was intoxicated or not.

Huh?!

Not only does that puzzling quote leave me wanting to interrogate the police force, so do a few other points.

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Woman Faces 5 Years for Breastfeeding While Drunk

Cate Nelson — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:20:39 +0000

North Dakota officials prosecuted a new mother, 26-year-old Stacey Anvarinia, for breastfeeding while intoxicated.

Police charged the Grand Forks mother after receiving a domestic disturbance call and witnessing her nursing her 6-week-old daughter. Officers say she appeared drunk, but there’s no report of her blood alcohol content. They booked her on child neglect charges.

And for some reason, she has pleaded guilty to the felony charge. But don’t worry. She won’t have to register as an offender against children.

But she now faces 5 years in jail.

So what’s worse: separating an infant from her mother for half a decade, or making the mistake of BFWD?

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Lotus Announces “Omnivore”: A Car That Can Run on Almost Any Fuel

Jo Borras — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:04:40 +0000

Ever wish you could buy a car that would run on just about anything? An engine that gave you something approaching the efficiency of diesel, and the convenience of gas? Last week, the forward-thinkers at Lotus announced just that.

It’s called the Lotus Omnivore, and we’ve got all the details on this little, all-aluminum marvel.

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How to Cure a Hangover and a Tip for Prevention

Derek Markham — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:23 +0000

Alcohol isn’t necessarily unhealthy for you, unless you overdo it. But you went ahead and had that extra drink (and maybe another as well) at the party last night, and now you’re hurting. Hangovers can be hell. Here’s a few tips to get you back on the road to recovery.

Prevention:

Curing a hangover really starts with prevention, so if you know you’ll be hoisting a few drinks in the evening (strictly socially, of course), prepare yourself. Drink lots of water during the day and eat a good meal before the first drink. Try to put away as much H2O as you can, maybe even adding a pinch of salt to it for electrolytes. If you take a multi-vitamin, make sure you’ve had yours for the day (and perhaps take an extra). Grab some B6 tablets and vitamin C and dose yourself throughout the day (follow manufacturers dosage guidelines).

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75 Years of Conspicuous Consumption

Stuart Stein — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:53:53 +0000

December 5th is Repeal Day. That day back in 1933 that ended those dark days of “The Great Experiment” that failed. For those who where sleeping during American History class, the Volstead Act was repealed by the Amendment XXI to the US Constitution:

AMENDMENT XXIPassed by Congress February 20, 1933. Ratified December 5, 1933.

Section 1.
The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

Section 2.
The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or Possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

Section 3.
This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

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DIY Aromatic Bitters: Make Amazing Cocktails at Home!

Bryan Luukinen — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:33:47 +0000

Throwback cocktails are all the rage these days, and drinking at home frees you from $8 drinks and designating a driver. What separates ordinary swill from killer cocktail recipes can be as simple as the addition of aromatic bitters.

If your bitters are made at home, you’ve got an ultimately customizable addition to any good drink. And you can re-use the container, and buy bulk spices. Sustainability in a bottle!

What are aromatic bitters you say? Why, saddle up to the bar and lend an ear. Bitters are indispensable additions to countless cocktails, and you may be familiar with a couple of house calls that beckon for bitters, including the Sazerac, Manhattan, and LLB (lemon, lime and bitters). Thing is, bitters were kind of an ol’ timey thing until a couple of years ago when the cocktail began to stage a bit of a comeback.

Bitters started out as “a tincture of any number of esoteric roots and herbs with an alcohol base“, and became a common addition to many cocktails. One of the first cocktails, the Sazerac, was invented by a Frenchman who popularized the drink in New Orleans. His drugstore, the Pharmacie Peychaud, served up drinks in a coquetier (that’s french for “egg cup”), which is where the name “cocktail” may have come from. Ok, enough history. Let’s drink!

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Guilt-Free Beer Guzzling: Top Five Sustainable Suds

Meredith Melnick — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:26:19 +0000

Who’s thirsty?

Between the barbecues, national holidays and beach vacations, cold beers become a necessity in many households over the summer months. As we pay more attention to the way our food is grown, harvested and transported, perhaps we owe it to the environment to be as vigilant with our beer. But how easy is it to find environmentally-conscientious breweries?

Beer brewing is not the most environmentally-friendly of activities, particularly regarding water usage. On average, six gallons of water are required to brew one gallon of beer - a ratio that must be drastically reduced in dry areas. Wastewater, carbon emissions and huge energy generators also contribute to the environmental sins of the industry.

But more breweries are taking notice of the eating public’s environmental awakening. While the biggest multinational breweries are beginning to make structural changes that promote sustainability, most of the greenest beers are (unsurprisingly) local and regional ones. Microbreweries are great agents of change because they interact with the communities that surround them. Their smaller size and community feeling make them more amenable to change, so it is easier to petition them and request more sustainable practices. Below are the top five eco-minded, North American mid-sized breweries:

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Give Up Carbon, Not Chocolate, for Lent

Jennifer Lance — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:09:06 +0000

Bishops of Liverpool and London are calling on Christians to give up carbon for Lent. According to the Telegraph,

Lent is the time when Christians traditionally give up such things as sweets, chocolate or alcohol in recognition of the 40 days Christ spent fasting in the desert to prepare for his ministry. This year they will be asked to think about their own carbon footprint…

Diocese of London

Tearfund

Image courtesy of www.london.anglican.org.

Green Brews: Green Nightclub Serves ‘Eco-lixirs’

Clayton B. Cornell — Sat, 19 May 2007 13:15:26 +0000

Editor's note: Green Brews is a new biweekly series in which Green Options writer Clayton Bodie Cornell explores a passion unrelated to biofuels: organic beers and green nightlife. Enjoy!

Have you ever felt guilty after a night at the bar? Not the guilt associated with spending all your hard-earned cash on overpriced drinks, or wasting a day of your life nursing a hangover — that happens. What I'm asking is whether or not your green conscience extends into the realm of alcohol…

I won't be surprised if you answer 'no' — I did too (generally speaking). But a completely new trend could be on the horizon: the 'eco-nightlcub':

…Mark Klemen['s]…new venture, Butterfly Social Club,…makes eco-consciousness and healthful living as easy as ordering a drink. Located next door to Klemen's diverse, socially conscious nightlife mainstay Funky Buddha Lounge [in Chicago], Butterfly offers an array of alcohol, juices and tonics that are either certified organic or grown and produced in an eco-friendly environment."

Consistent with the general trend in organic food and drink, Klemen claims organic alcohols taste better and are healthier. This is an attractive concept; whenever I consume something to excess I like to make it as healthy as possible. But he's probably right. Just like a top-shelf liquor, organic products tend to be more refined and contain fewer byproducts and pesticide residues. Anyone that's had a 'cheap-wine hangover' knows what I'm talking about.

Ingesting fewer pesticide residues is never a bad idea, though I'm sure someone out there is thinking 'healthy alcohol' is a pretty stupid concept. In terms of personal well-being, this may be true (drinking too much by any other name is still, well, you know…), but don't forget the term 'organic' involves a whole set of farming practices that are healthier for farmers and their land. It's not just about your brain cells.

Besides organic spirits, the Butterfly Social Club has a lot more eco-savviness to offer. The whole club is designed around green concepts:

Everything about Butterfly exudes an organic quality–even the artistic facade looks like a living thing, a hobbit hole growing out of the urban landscape. Inside, natural builder Miguel Elliott used a mixture of sand, clay and straw to hand sculpt curving walls and trees that double as seating nooks. Klemen calls the space comforting and cave-like, adding that the mud mixture helps keep temperatures cool.

Klemen says he's trying to offer customers "an opportunity to have a better tasting and better feeling experience."

Atmosphere, they say, is everything. At least that's what we tell ourselves when we pay $8 for a martini. But like the best of green innovation, Butterfly takes takes something most of us do anyway, makes it eco-friendly, and increases the quality and enjoyment of the experience:

What about drinkers loyal to not-exactly-beneficial brands? "I'm not asking anybody to give anything up," he says. "I'm asking somebody to get something better."

Klemen also says he's not asking you to save the world–just to spend your hard-earned cash on something more environmentally friendly. If there's some aspect of what he's doing at Butterfly that "makes people a little more aware," he says, it's a step in the right direction."

Hell, I'd drink there.

If you're off to the bar this weekend, Klemen offered some eco-conscious drinking tips to keep in mind:

Ditch: vodka and Red Bull
Do: Rain vodka, made from organic Midwestern grains, and Steaz certified organic energy drink; or Chopin vodka, from organic Polish potatoes, and Butterfly's housemade energy drink, made with spring water, and rainforest-sustaining roots, herbs and teas

Ditch: draft cider
Do: certified organic, unpasteurized Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouche Brut de Normandie (Klemen says he carries this cider to support the family that's been producing it for hundreds of years)

Ditch: Captain and Coke
Do: Navan cognac, which features natural black vanilla from Madagascar, and Steaz organic root beer

Ditch: Bud
Do: Wild Hop Lager and Stone Mill, Anheuser-Busch's beers made with certified organic barley malt; for a more enzymatic, organic option, try Wiesen Edel-Weisse, which ferments in the bottle up until you crack it open

Ditch: supermarket chardonnay
Do: organic and biodynamic wine from Frey vineyards (Klemen says the grapes are grown in "awesome soil")

Originally reported by Karen Budell:
Eco-lixirs: Can cocktails have a conscience? Butterfly Social Club thinks so. (May 9th, 2007).