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."
The nanny state must decide what's good for us.
Somewhere Hillary is nodding. It Takes a Village to Raise . . . a Toast.
Ok, am cleaning the screen from Dr. Pepper snort.
Wouldn't 190 proof qualify as an explosive?
They've never been to one of mine!
Ted Kennedy is outraged!
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.
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Otherwise, it would be called a teeth brush.
(Not sure if that's related to imbibing 190 proof grain alcohol.)
"Wouldn't 190 proof qualify as an explosive?"
It burns reeeeal good!
Don't know about that, but I do know that you better gulp it because if you sip it i'll evaporate before it hits your throat!
Wouldn't 190 proof qualify as an explosive? - got some moon shine (it was tasty) from Arkansas many years ago; the sheriff there(really) made it to run his tractors on instead of gasoline.
gee, maybe the inbreeding will stop now.....
What's next...banning Slivovitz, Goldschlager, Bacardi 151, wild turkey, anything over 80 proof, anything over 60 proof, anything stronger than wine, anything stronger than beer, anything stronger than 3.2 beer....water?
just drink 20.52632% more of the 151-proof and you have 190-proof. They think they can outsmart us. Ha!
eventually they'll ban life itsself...
Did you ever try to launch a 190 proof grain alcohol container across the room with just a smidgen of the stuff left in the bottle. This is how you do it;
1) lay bottle on it's side
2) obtain Bic lighter from a fellow sailor on liberty that smokes
3) place lighter next to bottle opening
4) operate lighter according to manufacturers instructions
5) apply ice, followed by ointment and gauze to third degree burns on your thumb
Welcome to the Nerf society. It's recess time, children! Please roll up your sleeves.
And the Jungle Juice revolt begins...
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