Synthehol

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Synthehol is an artificial substitute for alcohol in the fictional Star Trek universe's 24th century. It allows the drinker to experience intoxicating effects without any adverse after-effects such as hangovers; according to Lieutenant Commander Data, synthehol's "intoxicating effects can be easily dismissed" (TNG: "Relics").

1 Use
2 Side effects
3 Real synthehol
4 External links

[edit] Use

Food replicators aboard Starfleet starships produce synthehol substitutions by default when requests for alcohol are made. In particular, the beverages served in Ten-Forward aboard the Enterprise-D are almost exclusively syntheholic. However, bartender Guinan keeps a supply of real alcohol, including Aldebaran whisky, under the counter ("Relics").

Quark serves synthehol alongside real alcohol in his bar aboard Deep Space Nine. In fact, synthehol was developed by the Ferengi.

[edit] Side effects

While synthehol has few or no adverse effect on most humanoid species in the Star Trek universe, it does have unpleasant side effects on some species. Former Borg Seven of Nine's Borg implants are unable to break down an important synthehol protein, causing her to suffer hangover-like symptoms so severe that she requires medical treatment (Voy: "Timeless"). Synthehol similarly affects the Kadi (Voy: "Someone to Watch Over Me").

Captain Jean-Luc Picard's brother Robert, a winemaker, says that synthehol has ruined Jean-Luc's palate. However, Jean-Luc feels it allows him to better appreciate real wines (TNG: "Family").

[edit] Real synthehol

Synthehol may soon become reality; Professor David Nutt has suggested a method for making it[1]. In February 1995, David M. Schantz incorporated The Synthehol Foundation in California as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization but was dissolved in 1998.