Synthehol (a portmanteau of "synthesized" and "alcohol") was a chemical variant of alcohol. It appeared to have the same taste and smell as "real" alcohol to most individuals, but none of the deleterious effects associated with alcohol for most humanoids, such as debilitating intoxication, addiction, and alcohol poisoning. Most humanoids had an enzyme which broke down the alcohol-like compounds in synthehol. According to Data, synthehol's "intoxicating effects can be easily dismissed." (TNG: "Relics")

Synthehol was a regular ingredient in the drinks served on Starfleet vessels and starbases. Some bartenders like Guinan and Quark, however, kept a supply of genuine alcoholic beverages for customers requesting such. (TNG: "Relics"; DS9, various)

The slight chemical difference between synthehol and real alcohol was an annoyance to connoisseurs of alcoholic beverages such as Robert Picard and Montgomery Scott. Danilo Odell of the Bringloidi refused to drink synthehol after having sampled some offered by Miles O'Brien. (TNG: "Up The Long Ladder") Robert Picard believed that synthehol corrupted his brother Jean-Luc Picard's taste for wine, while Jean-Luc believed it gave one a greater appreciation for the real thing. (TNG: "Family") Captain Scott was able to differentiate alcohol from synthehol when he drank a glass of scotch in the USS Enterprise-D's Ten Forward lounge. He found the taste revolting, and he let the young bartender who served him know it. (TNG: "Relics")

On Ferenginar, Quark was known as "The Synthehol King". (DS9: "Body Parts")

It is unknown whether Quark was actually known by this nickname, or if he made it up himself, as he was speaking somewhat sarcastically when he referred to it.

In 2369, during his brief tenure as Grand Nagus, Quark was approached by Nava, who wanted to introduce synthehol to the Gamma Quadrant. Quark thought it sounded like a "very lucrative opportunity." (DS9: "The Nagus")

In 2370, a "medicinal brew" given to Julian Bashir by Quark contained synthehol, among other ingredients.

In early 2371, during a downturn in business due to the threat of the Dominion, Quark had a sale on synthehol. (DS9: "The House of Quark")

On at least two occasions, Seven of Nine became intoxicated after drinking synthehol, as her Borg implants were not designed to process it. Just one champagne flute of synthehol was enough to give her a blood synthehol level of 0.05%. She suffered similar symptoms to those that alcohol had on non-assimilated Humans. (VOY: "Timeless", "Body and Soul")

Seven might have overcome this disability by 2399, as in PIC : " Stardust City Rag " she requests "bourbon, straight up".

In 2375, the Kadi ambassador Tomin visited USS Voyager, attended a reception, and drank some syntheholic beverages. It was later realized that Kadi physiology lacked the enzyme which broke down the alcohol-like substance in synthehol, causing him to become drunk and attempt to woo Seven of Nine. He later passed out, and The Doctor was able to remove the synthehol with Seven's nanoprobes. (VOY: "Someone to Watch Over Me")

A close-up of a replicator's manual control interface auctioned through the It's A Wrap! sale and auction showed a dedicated synthehol button, among other options such as water or fruit. [1]

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