A new craze for inhaling alcohol was today attacked by medical experts as a potential danger that could cause brain damage.

Drinks including vodka and absinthe can be "snorted" into the nose or inhaled into the mouth through a tube using a new device known as an Alcohol Without Liquid (AWOL) vaporiser.

Scientists estimate that the effects of the alcohol can be felt much quicker as it is directly absorbed through blood vessels in the nose or lungs ?bypassing the stomach and liver.

Bristol bar Il Bordello became the first venue to offer its customers the device last week and owner Liz Lewitt said it had proved a hit with drinkers.

The inventor of the Awol machine, Dominic Simler, claims this method of consuming alcohol reduces the effects of a hangover and is calorie-free.

But alcohol experts described the device as ø§iabolical?and warned that inhaling alcohol could cause serious brain damage.

Professor Oliver James, head of clinical medical sciences at Newcastle University, said: "By snorting the alcohol it can go directly into the brain without being filtered by the liver."

"What is getting into your brain could be the equivalent of many times more than by drinking it."

"This will not only make you very drunk very quickly but is also likely to increase the risk of direct alcohol damage to the brain. This could do irreversible damage to nerves, lead to swelling and possibly lead to dementia in the long term."

He added that people may also be able to inhale alcohol for 20 minutes, get drunk, drive and still be able to pass a police breathalyser test as alcohol levels in the blood remained very low.

The Automobile Association said Awol would have to be treated like drugs and be subject to rules making it illegal to drive with impaired abilities.

Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the AA Motoring Trust, said: "The law doesn't just say you must not be over the legal limit, it says you must not drive when you are impaired."

Mr Simler, 29, from London, said no one should drive after consuming alcohol but refuted claims that the device posed a danger to health.

"There is a built-in safety device as it takes about one hour to inhale one shot of alcohol. It is hardly something people are going to get very drunk on," he said.

"It is designed to allow people to enjoy the effects of alcohol mixed with oxygen. It promotes a sense of well being and a mild euphoria. It is a fun new legal way to take alcohol."

Mr Simler adapted the vaporiser from oxygen machines used for aromatherapy and exercise purposes.

The alcohol vapour is created by pouring a spirit into a diffuser capsule connected to an oxygen pipe. The oxygen bubbles are then passed through the capsule, absorbing the alcohol, before being inhaled through a tube.

Mr Simler estimated that he had sold approximately 50 machines, at ?,500 each, to be used specifically for vaporising alcohol.

Bar owner Ms Lewitt said customers using Awol would get "bored before they got drunk" as the amount of alcohol inhaled was so small.

She said she had been overwhelmed with bookings for the device, which is charged at a rate of ? a shot.

"It is a novelty. People enjoy passing it around in a group. It takes that burning sensation away from the alcohol allowing customers to enjoy the taste of flavoured alcohol," Ms Lewitt said.

She added that she had not seen anyone react badly to Awol yet but insisted the bar had a zero tolerance policy to bad behaviour.

By Sarah Cade

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