"Health & Medical News"

Absinthe, a long-banned liquor that recently became legal for sale in the U.S., is attracting new fans with its legendary reputation and air of exclusivity, the Chicago Tribune reported Dec. 22.

The green, 120-proof liquor distilled from wormwood and tasting of anise costs $75 and up and is only sold in a handful of stores. Experts say that the high price and rarity is part of absinthe’s appeal, along with a reputation for hallucinogenic effects and a long list of artists and authors who have sung absinthe’s praises over the centuries.

Absinthe lovers say the drink was the victim of a smear campaign by the French wine industry and that alleged health risks associated with the drink have been disproved. Countries in Europe have slowly lifted bans on absinthe, and the U.S. ban was ended in March.

Today, there are at least three absinthe brands for sale in the U.S., with more on the way. Drinkers say that absinthe seems to provide an alcoholic buzz without the usual accompanying drowsiness. “You can drink it and still be lucid,” said Chuck Kapelke, 33, of Oakland, Ill. “It’s almost like a mix of Red Bull and vodka.”

Absinthe’s potency and appeal — which still contains a whiff of danger — concerns some. “You worry about college students,” said H. Westley Clark, director of the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. “There are a lot of people who test the edge of the universe.”

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