Alcopal

The festive season is upon us, and no doubt many of us are looking forward to celebrating with a drink or two. I certainly am.

I thought, then, that this might be a suitable time to write a few words about Alcopal. According to its manufacturers, "Alcopal tablets guarantee to improve impairments caused by consuming alcohol".

That sounds like a good thing if we're all having a few drinks. Too good to be true, in fact. And almost always, when something sounds too good to be true, it is.

Earlier this year, Alcopal invited bloggers to get in touch to find out more about the product, so I did. I was told "The white tablet containing calcium carbonate is known to complex with the alcohol so that it is not absorbed by the stomach nor the intestine and is taken to the kidneys instead".

Let's just go over that again. Alcopal tablets apparently get alcohol directly to the kidneys, without first being absorbed by the stomach or intestine. How, I wonder, does that work? By telekinesis? Now, I can't claim to be the worlds greatest expert in anatomy and physiology, but as far as I understand it, the kidneys are not actually inside the stomach or intestine, so I'm struggling to imagine how alcohol could get to the kidneys without first being absorbed into the bloodstream.

If anyone has any bright ideas about how that might work, do let me know.

I also asked the nice people at Alcopal if they had any published research showing how their product works. They said, in early September, that they would have to get back to me on that. I'm still waiting.

So everyone, I hope you enjoy a well earned drink over the festive season, but please don't be fooled into thinking that magic tablets will nullify the impairing effects of alcohol, because they won't. Just make sure you leave the car at home if you're going out for a few drinks.

Merry Christmas, and cheers!