Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

Could not believe the news earlier about the poor girl who went out with friends on her 18th birthday for a few drinks.What should have been a good night out, has ended up in her losing her stomach.Why cant pubs and bars just stick to serving pints and spirits like they always have, instead of meddling with chemistry they have no knowledge of, and leave that to the scientists.That poor girls life has been changed forever and for what, the pub trying some gimmick which is aimed at young people to boost their profits.

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

I had to do a double take at the TV a when i heard that. I dont understand how they have got away with selling liquid nitrogen.

Although if i saw it on the menu id got nowhere near it. At music festivals they have o2 bars were you go to 'get revived' or 'give yourself a boost' by breathing in pure oxygen (which is bad for you).

You couldnt open a sandwich shop without tons of paperwork yet people can get away with selling liquid nitrogen to drink.

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

We also have pure O2 on the flight deck, in the masks. It certainly helps with a blocked nose:D

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

Inhaling Pure Oxygen Can Damage Brain

If Jaysay was on line he could advise us whether his NHS oxygen has carbon dioxide added

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

It's the fact that liquid nitrogen is so cold that makes it dangerous. It causes extreme burns or if it gets to the stomach it warms and expands and can lead to a burst stomach.

I can't understand how anyone could hold a glass containing liquid nitrogen, would have thought it would be too cold. When I worked in a lab someone filled my wellies with liquid nitrogen. They went rock hard and the rubber cracked and disintegrated. Oh, I wasn't wearing them at the time!

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

Now you tell me Margaret,
When I was an engineer and getting a bit weary I would often go to the oxy bottle attached to the welding gear, open the tap and have a good sniff of the stuff as it came out of the nozzle.

Maybe that's why I am in a state of bewilderment most of the time.

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

Ever got ice cubes out of a freezer and one's frozen onto your fingers? That's probably -20/-30 degrees Centigrade.
Liquid nitrogen- that's-196 C( -321 F). How she ever got that drink passed her lips and teeth without them freezing solid I can't imagine. What it did to her gullet and stomach- heaven knows.
And how this stuff can be allowed in open jugs in a pub/bar- the mind boggles.Imagine if some joker thought it would be fun to throw the contents into your face!You'd lose your face, eyes etc. Just knocking the jug over could be a disaster.

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

Don't think you could keep it in a jug for long without it evaporating. You'd have to keep it in a Dewar vessel (that's tech speak for a thermos flask).

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

Exactly which is why this sort of thing should never be allowed in pubs and bars, whoever made it legal needs to have a serious look at themselves tonight.

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

True, susie but the barman is pouring that stuff out into shallow cocktail glasses in a pub full of drinkers- I'd rather pour petrol.
Do you think the barman bothers putting the top back on the flask between drinks? It won't evaporate too fast in a flask, even with the top off.

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

At music festivals they have o2 bars were you go to 'get revived' or 'give yourself a boost' by breathing in pure oxygen (which is bad for you).

Where did you get that bit from oxygen is bad for you. When I first joined the Fire Brigade the breathing apparatus sets carried cylinders of pure oxygen designed to last one hour on a closed circuit system. The mines rescue teams used the same sets as we did but with 2 hour capacity cylinders.

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

No Gordon, I agree with all that. We never used to have a top on the Dewar flasks in the lab.

What I was really pointing out was that you couldn't just have it in a jug which to me implies an ordinary glass vessel.

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

This is pure stupidity :(- they only use it to make the drink look like it's smoking - it does nothing for the taste!

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

I could not believe it when i heard on news tonight.:eek: Yeh can easily see the attraction to a kid thats had a few, if they sell it- it must be ok mentality. This should be made illegal fer bars to flog it immediately, There was some Professor on saying it shouldn't be banned but regulated, Never heard anything as stupid from someone who should know better. Think hes a member of "Dickheads Are Us":(

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

It was just on the ITV news that your meant to let the nitrogen evaporate fully before you drink it as it doesn't go in the drink just on the surface - this girl apparently drank it too soon. But it's still dangerous and should be banned.

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

Yep i know, the poor lass will be knackered fer life, Me point is its too easy fer kids to be attracted to new fangled ideas, most of us were stupid n had no thought fer danger when young.

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

It was probably lucky that she was in Oscar's bar which is only a few hundred metres from the hospital in Lancaster. Getting there quickly probably helped to save her life.

I guess this won't have done a lot for the bar's reputation and they've only been open a few months. The students have just returned so perhaps that will help...

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

Not much I can add to that... ;)

The O2 that's piped around the hospital is pure, but it has a non-rebreathe valve.

"Down in one! Down in one!"

Re: Liquid nitrogen cocktails
 

Right, then - that rules out the liquid nitrogen. What about trying this 'un:

BBC News - Man dies after cockroach-eating competition

I wonder if you'd eat 'em straight or with a bit of salt & vinegar? Better ask Eric - he's probably had some experiance. I suppose it makes a pleasant change from a Mac's quarter pounder & freedom fries.