Help settle a bet please....

[rickyaifd]

A friend and I have had a discussion and he is under the impression that high alcohol content, specifically above 120 proof, is safe to drink. I always heard and understood that high alcohol content, again above 120 proof, is generally considered not safe to drink. Who wins the bet

[Oatmeal]

Avoid! Cell damage and potential cancer as a result (so I've read)

[Bushman]

Found this statement in a journal:

Gentle sipping of small quantities of very high proof spirits probably won't hurt you. It depends on your personal sensitivity. Drinking—as opposed to sipping—alcohol at very high concentrations risks damage to any and all of the tissue it encounters along the way: mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach

[TwoSheds]

I've had similar arguments with folks and my searching seems to turn up general information about the dangers of any alcohol, and even when addressing high ABV focuses on the total alcohol consumed, not cell damage.

If anyone can provide some links specifically on the dangers of high proof alcohol I'd appreciate it.

[squigglefunk]

alcohol is a known carcinogen at any proof

[squigglefunk]

If anyone can provide some links specifically on the dangers of high proof alcohol I'd appreciate it.

the higher the proof the more chance it could catch fire and burn your face off

[8Ball]

Had a doctor tell me years ago that if I was going to drink spirits “straight,” then I should follow up with a drink of water after each sip to minimize the alcohol’s effect on my throat, stomach and overall physical condition.

[Twisted Brick]

Had a doctor tell me years ago that if I was going to drink spirits “straight,” then I should follow up with a drink of water after each sip to minimize the alcohol’s effect on my throat, stomach and overall physical condition.

+1

As my drinking of spirits has evolved, (more about taste than total buzz) I have begun the habit of drinking a big glass of water before I start imbibing. This practice seemed prudent with my drinking (neat) of increasingly higher-proof expressions.

[NZChris]

It might depend on what your bet is. If you are betting that there is proof, because 60%+ isn't generally available, there won't be a lot of statistical evidence that you can produce to back that up and you might lose.

[still_stirrin]

A friend and I have had a discussion and he is under the impression that high alcohol content, specifically above 120 proof, is safe to drink. I always heard and understood that high alcohol content, again above 120 proof, is generally considered not safe to drink. Who wins the bet

It certainly can numb sensitive nerve endings, especially in the mouth/tongue area. But it can also harm tissue in the esophagus and stomach. And if the tissue damage is “chronic”, it can eventually lead to disease or even the “big C”.

So, considering that 140 proof (70%ABV) is pure enough to use as a sanitizer in clinical environments, you can see that alcohol nearly that strong can “kill things” like body tissue when exposed.

But, I have dipped my finger into the drip at the spout before and touched it to my tongue. If the purity is higher than 100+ proof or so, it will give my tongue a “tingle” as the nerves are shocked by the alcohol. I don’t drink it or even sip it at cask strength unless I’ve added a few ice cubes to dilute the alcohol down.

Also, since your senses are “neutralized” with high purity alcohol, it has less “flavor” or at least the sensations of flavor, especially the flavor you may be striving for in your spirit.

In the end, it doesn’t mean you have “balls” if you drink high purity liquor. It means you’re careless with your unsafe practice.
ss

[Truckinbutch]

A friend and I have had a discussion and he is under the impression that high alcohol content, specifically above 120 proof, is safe to drink. I always heard and understood that high alcohol content, again above 120 proof, is generally considered not safe to drink. Who wins the bet

It certainly can numb sensitive nerve endings, especially in the mouth/tongue area. But it can also harm tissue in the esophagus and stomach. And if the tissue damage is “chronic”, it can eventually lead to disease or even the “big C”.

So, considering that 140 proof (70%ABV) is pure enough to use as a sanitizer in clinical environments, you can see that alcohol nearly that strong can “kill things” like body tissue when exposed.

But, I have dipped my finger into the drip at the spout before and touched it to my tongue. If the purity is higher than 100+ proof or so, it will give my tongue a “tingle” as the nerves are shocked by the alcohol. I don’t drink it or even sip it at cask strength unless I’ve added a few ice cubes to dilute the alcohol down.

Also, since your senses are “neutralized” with high purity alcohol, it has less “flavor” or at least the sensations of flavor, especially the flavor you may be striving for in your spirit.

In the end, it doesn’t mean you have “balls” if you drink high purity liquor. It means you’re careless with your unsafe practice.
ss

I so agree .

[SaltyStaves]

There are professionals the world over, who walk up and down rick houses/barrel warehouses literally pulling samples for a living.

A dangerous job according to some.

[MihiT]

I wouldn't make a habit of it, but drinking >60% abv is not something I'd call "unsafe"

..."unadvisable", "unwise", and "unappealing"...but not unsafe, beyond the usual caveats with alcohol injestion.

[Orpheus123]

I guess I never thought about it. Interesting. Myself, I prefer 90 to 100 proof. But, occasionally I'll sip a 120 or higher, but I will cut that with ice or just water.

Isn't it about moderation, as all things are about moderation? Surely people are not saying you will get cancer from sipping Knob Creek 9 year at 120 proof...

...unless you did it every day or something...

...huh. Interesting discussion though. As I said, I never thought about it...