Vaping Alcohol: The Newest Way to Drink and Drive?

Having a drink isn’t always convenient, and for good reason. When we drink, we take a lot of risks that can be avoided by following rules about when we can drink and where. That’s why public intoxication laws prohibit us from drinking in public, and the legal drinking age is 21. Even our beverages are regulated so that we cannot have more than a certain percentage of alcohol in each serving of beer, wine or liquor. Time after time, we’ve shown that not only are these rules necessary, but that they prevent accidents from overdosing, drunk driving and other safety concerns. Despite these risks, merely drinking alcohol isn’t enough for some people and it is technology that has enabled a whole new method of quick and dangerous intoxication: vaping.

By vaping alcohol, we are bypassing our bodies’ natural processing of alcohol and instantly finding a way to “drink” to excess. Much like binge drinking, but worse, vaping alcohol allows for fast intoxication, creating a false sense of security about how much we’ve already consumed, and a lot of uncertainty about how the remainder of the alcohol will affect us. The vapor directly enters the bloodstream through the lungs, causing a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level that is processed slowly when compared to drinking alcohol. With a high BAC that stays around longer, bad decisions and irresponsible behaviors are more likely to occur.

Drinking and driving is a criminal offense that can have tragic consequences. On one hand, you could be ordered to pay fines and court costs and install and ignition interlock device (which will detect if you’ve been vaping alcohol, as well), and on the other, you could cause lifelong injuries or even the death of another person. Consuming alcohol, in any manner, to the point where you are a danger to others is avoidable and an important lesson in being a responsible member of the community. By maintaining a clear head, you’re keeping the streets safe from tragedy, and your own freedom to continue making the right choices in life.