Beer geeks have an entire category of beers called “session beers” (or they call them “sessionable”) for lower-alcohol beers they can drink more of during an evening of beer drinking.
Pardon me, please, for not trying to read and interpret the scientific papers, but which are you referring to here, the new gel or Z-Biotics?
Zbiotics uses bacteria, the new gel does not.
Interesting, i have asian flush as well but not that severe, I’m probably a tomato after my 4th drink, so i always try to keep it under that. Currently using Sunset Forte that helps a bit, reduces the intensity of flushing for me.
Would like to know more on how Zbiotic works for you?
I just swallowed a hellgramite worm larva and all is well. 
While I’m sure someone will want to market this as a fun sobering up device, the main driver seems as a treatment for acute alcohol poisoning, no? Which strikes me as very valuable in a medical setting, if it can get through human trials.
Does it work after the fact? I was assuming you had to take it before drinking.
Mmm good point. The study linked in the OP did administer it prophylactically, but from the language used it sounds like an intended application is to treat acute alcohol toxicity, which is kind of hard to do before it happens in many cases. I guess if blood alcohol is high but absorption is continuing in the gut then a later administration e.g. by a first responder EMT might have some positive effect? I’m sure we will find out in years to come.
Needs a better brand name for that.
Instead of Narcan, start giving Barcan?
Any chance of a Berserkerday rollout?
Hi Richard - You can read the literature I posted upthread for the scientific background on how it works. You take it 0-60 minutes before drinking, and the bacillus bacteria (which can pass through the acidic environment of the stomach unscathed) begins producing an enzyme in the intestines that breaks down acetaldehyde. Most people’s livers produce an enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde, but some people only have one or zero copies of the gene to produce this. You are probably like me, having 1 copy of the gene meaning you can get away with a drink or two before you start being overwhelmed by acetaldehyde and start to flush. At a wedding last year in Greece, I consumed 3 bottles of wine in one night (post-zbiotics) and did not have any adverse effects that evening or the next morning. Normally I would be passed out after drink 4.
The turning red part is a histamine (allergy) reaction to the acetaldehyde that people have have - inflammation to protect cells from the toxic acetaldehyde. Some Asians take zantac or pepcid AC, which as a vaso-constrictor, reduces the flush - but that addresses the symptom, not the problem.
I don’t think Zbiotics works for everyone, but I have a number of friends (and my brother) who I have introduced this to, and the difference is so pronounced, they have started using Zbiotics before every drink. I would recommend trying it out and seeing if you notice a difference. They will refund your money if you tell them that it has had zero effect for you (from what I’ve heard).
You can get $20 off your first order using this referral link, which also earns me a $20 credit:
Pepcid isn’t a vasoconstrictor, it is a histamine blocker. It can also block the conversion of ethanol to acetylaldehyde which can be good in some ways but not in others.
Yup, thanks. Like I said above, not a doctor 
I’ve tried zbiotic but mostly bought it for my wife, who can get decent hangovers (I’m lucky that way, I have to have dozens of drinks before I might even get a moderate one — my problem though is running hot and not sleeping well in the middle of the night).
I have tried it and I think it helped?
I thought it would improve sleep and reduce hangovers, but are you saying it makes you less impaired? I had never thought of that.
I’ve also used FlyBy a decent amount. Again for the purposes of better sleep, and to help my wife avoid hangovers. It seems to work moderately well.
I think you’re vastly underestimating the market for some thing like this. I know tons of people who are not particularly into wine but who seldom drink anymore because the effects of alcohol have gotten so rough on them as they get older. I certainly think that for things like weddings and other events, these people would be happy to have a product which would allow them to have a couple of drinks without feeling the effect so severely. I think wine geeks are probably very very small part of this product’s intended market
I tried it, but got this message “We are processing your request. You will receive an email if you qualify for this offer”. No email yet.
This has happened before - customer service has sorted it out pretty quickly. It inly works if you’re a new customer.
Same thing happened to me, just email customer service at info@zbiotics.com and they’ll take about a day to respond to you with an actual code.
I’m hopeful this gel will make unbearable 15% alcohol California Pinot Noir taste more like Burgundy.
FIFY
Got this in my mailbox today since I’m following the “nutraceuticals” trends:
I’m not affiliated with them in any way and only read through it quickly. Their first objective worries me that this could be used (marketed?) as a way to get behind the wheel after a few drinks:
- To offer relief from inebriation in few minutes, and shorten the time to lower BrAC (sober up a person)
God knows we don’t need any encouragement to take the wheel after a long tiring night of drinking and partying, even if someone’s BrAC is acceptable. Again, I didn’t read the site in details so I might be totally off here.