A new, quick fix for sobering up?

By Opinion by Mike Pellicio

As college students, many of us are no strangers to the intoxicating effects of alcohol.

I'm fairly confident that almost all of us, however, are strangers to the effects of Security Feel Better, a drink described as a "digestive aid" that controversially claims to vanish alcohol from your system up to six times faster than usual.

I know. This may seem counterproductive to some, but once you leave college, sobering up should acquire increased priority. This is especially true when your house and favorite bar aren't within walking distance of each other.

The manufacturer, PPN, has come under fire for encouraging binge drinking and implying that it's okay to drink and drive, provided that you down a bottle of Security Feel Better before buckling up. These concerns are valid, as alcohol abuse has been a big problem in France, the U.S., and Britain, the latter being the source of most resistance.

PPN claims that its user can experience a significant decrease in blood alcohol concentration in as little as 45 minutes. This has the potential to be very dangerous. Knowing there's a quick fix to intoxication, will heavy drinkers drink even more?

Will users drive after 45 minutes, regardless of their BAC? Further, will victims of a placebo effect wrap their cars around trees? And I don't even want to think about the future of the human liver.

These problems are well known and have likely been well discussed in Europe. The more interesting prospect, for me, is this question: What if Security Feel Better is the real deal? The product could prove beneficial for even the responsible drinker. But for a less-than-responsible consumer, this could literally be a lifesaver.

In presenting the potential doom that this revolutionary product could bring, we shouldn't deny it the chance that it deserves. Forget about sliced bread; this could be a much better way to sober up.

Security Feel Better, a court has ruled, can be sold in France, provided that it's not advertised with respect to BAC levels. This is a cautious measure that might be appropriate, especially if it turns out that it produces major side effects. But should the product prove effective, it should, by all means, be advertised as a quick fix for drunkenness.

NyQuil has the potential to be very dangerous, but it's still advertised as putting you to sleep. Let's give Security Feel Better a chance. If it turns out to be defective, can it. But if it's a legitimate lifesaver, then advertise it as such.