It’s Vanilla Time!

It is a great way to enhance the flavor of many foods.  You may use it in your favorite cookies, cake, or brownies; it can be found in nearly every baking recipe.  Its alcohol content may exceed conventional alcoholic beverages by a large margin.  What is it?  Vanilla extract!

A New York woman was recently arrested for driving erratically in a Walmart parking lot.  A breathalyzer test showed she was three times over the legal limit. The woman allegedly told police she had drank two hand-sized bottles of pure vanilla extract; police found a bottle after searching her vehicle.

Did you know that pure vanilla extract contains at least 35% alcohol, which is similar to the alcohol content found in vodka or gin?  By comparison, the average beer’s alcohol content ranges from 3% to 6%.

Visiting McCormick’s website, I learned many extracts contain enough alcohol to render intoxication if that is your desire.

·         Pure Almond extract:  32% alcohol.

·         Pure Banana extract:  34% alcohol

·         Pure Cinnamon extract:  40% alcohol.

·         Pure Orange extract:  79% alcohol

·         Pure Lemon extract:  83% alcohol

·         Pure Mint extract:  89% alcohol

·         Pure Peppermint extract:  89% alcohol.

While I am sure most people do not reach into the pantry to chug a bottle of extract just to get drunk, according to police, everyone from young children to alcoholics have been abusing vanilla extract and similar off-the-shelf products containing a significant amount of alcohol.  For under-age drinkers, it is a way to get very drunk very fast, without making an illegal purchase or raiding the family liquor cabinet.  Alcoholics tend to ingest these products when they don't want to admit they have a drinking problem.

While we can’t remove every item containing alcohol from our shelves, learning more about these substances, can help prevent our loved ones from traveling down a dangerous path to addiction.  Parents of teens should be especially aware of the great lengths some kids will go to for a high.  Just one- ounce bottle of vanilla extract added to a glass of Coke can provide that extra something.  Those who abuse household products may seem drunk and uncoordinated, and they may also have a chemical odor (or strong vanilla scent) to their breath. 

Mark Bello is the CEO and General Counsel of Lawsuit Financial Corporation, a pro-justice lawsuit funding company.