Comments on: Missing New Orleans

By: Jenn L

Jenn L — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:38:40 +0000

Thanks for the explanation, Carl. I think you’re right, it’s pretty ridiculous. Modern absinthe has nowhere near the levels of wormwood that the 19th century brew had. Though I’ve had it in Sicily and Slovenia to strange effect, so who knows (then again it could just as easily have been the tequila shots afterwards. Oh, liver & kidneys, please forgive my transgressions!)

Don, you are now stalking me, if you and DG were there Monday – I was there Saturday – so ppfffhht! ;)

By: Don

Don — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:06:28 +0000

You stalker, you. DG and I had a return visit just monday night to see if we had built the gumbo up in our minds. It was just as excellent as we remembered. Glad you liked it too.

By: Carl Weaver

Carl Weaver — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:17:55 +0000

Jenn, Absinthe is illegal because wormwood is poisonous, and the government says that you may consume one poison (alcohol) to excess all you want but that a tiny drop of wormwood is way too much. It damages your kidneys, they will say, but if you press them they will admit that you have to drink a whole vial of wormwood essence to have that effect. By the time you have the equivalent through Absinthe, you have likely killed yourself with alcohol.

But good news – wormwood in lethal doses is readily available at your local health food store.

In short, it’s because the Man has decided what we should and should not put in our bodies. It’s a bullshit rule.