Drink that's like alcohol... but without hangovers or addiction: 'Healthy' beverage could be on the market within two years

The beverage will produce the same 'happy, fuzzy' feeling of alcohol

But drinkers will be able to 'sober themselves' with an antidote pill

It could be on the market in two years if funding for the project is found

The 'healthy alcohol' is reported to give the same 'happy fuzzy' feeling of alcohol without the hangovers (picture posed by model)

It sounds too good to be true – a drink that provides all the pleasure of alcohol without any of the pain.

A controversial drugs expert says that ‘healthy alcohol’ could be on the market within two years – if someone will fund his research into it.

Professor David Nutt, who is perhaps best known for claiming that taking ecstasy is no more dangerous riding a horse, says it should be possible to become drunk without becoming ill.

The professor, who fired from his post as the Government’s chief drugs advisor in 2009 for saying cannabis, ecstasy and LSD are less harmful than alcohol and cigarettes, envisages a two part-process.

Revellers will first take a drink that produces the happy, fuzzy feeling of alcohol. Once they have had enough, they will pop an antidote pill that instantly sobers them up.

With alcohol-related illness costing the NHS £3.5billion a year, Professor Nutt, who has spent most of his working life treating alcoholics, says harm-free booze would ‘revolutionise’ healthcare.

However, it is likely to prove unpopular with the multi-billion-pound drinks industry.



And it is unclear whether it will be embraced by those who like to savour the taste of a wine or beer or enjoy ritual of going out for a drink with friends.

Critics also question whether people, including motorists. will remember to take the antidote.

Professor Nutt, of Imperial College London, has identified several compounds that hit the parts of the brain that provide the pleasurable feeling of alcohol.

But crucially, they don’t activate the parts associated with aggression and addiction.

The processor sees such a chemical being added to a range of flavoured cocktails that is sold in bars alongside normal alcohol.

Sobering thought: Professor David Nutt, above, is the scientist behind the idea. He is perhaps best known for claiming that taking ecstasy is no more dangerous riding a horse

As the concoction wouldn’t actually contain booze it wouldn’t harm the heart, liver, stomach and the other body parts that alcohol rots.

It should even be possible to chemically tweak it so that people remain in a pleasantly merry state, no matter how many glasses they have had.

Even hangovers should be a think of the past.

And, as the cocktail would act on a specific part of the brain, it would be easy to design an antidote that cancels out the feeling of being drunk.

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Professor Nutt said: ‘You can always find an antidote for it, so you have the pleasure of being inebriated, take another drug, wake up, sober up and drive home safely.

‘I have taken things like this when trying to work out how these drugs work on the brain.

‘I know the antidote works. I was in a state of intoxication and five minutes later I was giving a lecture.’

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the professor appealed for investment in his research.

He also called on the Government to assure any funders that the synthetic alcohol would not be deemed illegal.

Professor Nutt said: ‘I think this would be a serious revolution in health benefits, just like the electronic cigarette is going to revolutionise the smoking of tobacco.

‘I find it a bit weird we haven’t been talking about this before because it is such an obvious target for health improvement.’