Personal Injury Accident News:

AWOL Machines In Maryland and Drunk Driving

Comptroller Peter Franchot joined with Delegate Susan McComas, Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ron Bateman, community substance-abuse health advocates and other community leaders today to call for a statewide ban of Alcohol Without Liquid (AWOL) machines. These unregulated machines allow users to inhale alcohol vapor at a 10-times higher concentration than regular methods of drinking. In addition, the efficacy of Breathalyzer tests can also be affected with the use of AWOL Machines. The Comptroller urged the State Senate to pass House Bill 670, sponsored by Delegate McComas that would ban these types of machines in Maryland. The bill passed overwhelmingly in the House of Delegates earlier this month. "As the state's regulator of alcoholic beverages, I am all too aware of the tragic and heartbreaking consequences of alcohol abuse and these machines are a dangerous new tool that could lead to more addiction and more abuse in Maryland," said Comptroller Franchot. "I am particularly troubled with the appeal that these machines have for our younger population, as they are often marketed as a low-carb and calorie free way to get drunk. The Maryland legislature has led the nation for years in passing some of the nation's toughest drunk driving laws and we need to continue to be proactive in the fight against alcohol abuse and in the struggle to save lives by passing this legislation and banning AWOL machines in Maryland."

An AWOL machine is a product that vaporizes alcohol and blends the vapor with oxygen to create a mist. A person then inhales the mist through his or her mouth from the machine. Using an AWOL machine is 10 times more potent than drinking and they are available for purchase in two sizes for both personal and commercial use. House Bill 670 would prohibit the use, purchase or sale of an AWOL machine and create a misdemeanor offense with a fine of up to $1000. AWOL machines have been banned in 21 states, including Virginia, Tennessee, New York and California. "The machines have no other purpose than to deliver as much alcohol as possible as fast as possible," said Delegate McComas. "States across the country have seen the dangers these devices pose and have acted to protect their residents. It is time Maryland joins them to prevent the spread of a new kind of alcohol addiction, one that targets our youth and is even easier for them to abuse." Because the user of an AWOL machine inhales the mist through the nose, the substance skips the stomach and the liver to create an instant, potent buzz. Both the nose, brain and other organs are subjected to much higher levels of alcohol than through the regular method of drinking. Experts state that this rapid buzz creates a higher potential for addiction than traditional drinking. "This machine will produce high doses of alcohol directly to the brain, which can be toxic. I don't believe that these machines are safe and feel they will lead to higher rates of addiction to alcohol," said Michael Gimbel, the Director of Substance Abuse Education and Prevention Services for Sheppard Pratt Health System in testimony. "The potential for substances to become addictive is enhanced by the speed of their effect and the intensity of the high."

The AWOL machine is billed by its manufacturer as the "ultimate party toy," claiming it gives an "instant" hit and a "euphoric high." The manufacturer promotes vaporized alcohol as "the dieters dream" claiming that it is "low calorie and contains no carbohydrates." They further claim the device eliminates the dreaded hangover, although no scientific research is presented to validate and support these claims. This marketing ploy is insidious and is geared towards a youthful population, especially women. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, underage use of alcohol is more likely to kill a young person than all illegal drugs combined. With a device of this nature, its accessibility to the public and the instant high it produces, the dangers of rapid and extremely intense intoxication and its related consequences are all too frightening a possibility. Another alarming effect of these machines is that a Breathalyzer test administered up to twenty minutes after inhalation may not detect this high level of intoxication. This test result can occur despite the fact that a person may already be dangerously drunk because the intense mist has not yet filtered through to a user's blood stream. "These machines have the possibility of making it harder to prevent people from driving while intoxicated and that is a danger to every Marylander," said Anne Arundel County Sheriff Ron Bateman. "From a law enforcement perspective, these machines serve no public good and we support the Comptroller and the Delegate's effort to ban these devices." Last year the Maryland General Assembly came within minutes of joining the other states in banning these devices, but the bill died on Sine Die. The Comptroller urges the State Senate to act quickly for the good of all Marylanders.

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