Have you ever wished that you could get the buzz that comes after a few drinks without actually drinking? Even people who don’t necessarily like drinking a lot often find themselves in situations where they want a few drinks to fit into the social scene or to get up the courage to talk to someone of the opposite sex. A professor in Britain believes that an alcohol substitute that provides a buzz without the negative side effects could be in our near future.

David Nutt, a professor of neuropsychopharmacology, is working on a compound that makes a person feel like he has had a few drinks without actually ingesting alcohol. The compound is in the developmental stages, but it’s possible that it could be released in pill form or as a drink (for those who like the taste of cocktails, but want a healthier alternative) in the future. Not only is Nutt working on the alcohol substitute, he is also working on a pill that can sober up a person in just minutes.

This all seems really far-fetched, but Nutt says he has taken the compound he is working on and it worked just fine. “After exploring one possible compound I was quite relaxed and sleepily inebriated for an hour or so,” Nutt said. “Then within minutes of taking the antidote I was up giving a lecture with no impairment whatsoever.”

Professor Nutt's Alcohol pill? No hangover? Whoa

— SuperRan (@RRx87) November 12, 2013

While it might seem that Nutt is looking to create a world full of (temporary) drunks, he is primarily interested in protecting people from all of the negative side effects of consuming alcohol, without taking away the buzz they’re chasing. According to the World Health Organization, alcohol use results in 2.5 million deaths per year. Nutt points out in his article that this is more lives than AIDS claims per year.

Aside from potentially saving lives, Nutt’s compound could also decrease the chances of a host of illnesses related to heavy or prolonged alcohol consumption, including organ damage, cancer, anemia, depression and decreased mental functioning. The compound also has positive implications for non-drinkers, as Nutt’s compound and sobriety pill could decrease instances of drunk driving, which is a factor in around 10,000 deaths per year in the U.S.

It seems that Nutt’s alcohol substitute is close to being ready to go, if he is able to get enough investors, but would the government go for such a pill? State and local governments in the U.S. reportedly generate $5.6 billion per year from taxing alcohol sales.

Would you replace your alcoholic beverage of choice with Nutt’s substitute? Post your comments below.

[Image via YouTube]