As if our generation needed another excuse or pathway for intoxication, French-American scientist David Edwards has released a spray, which, when ingested, causes brief intoxication with no after-effects. No puking. No headaches. You can even pass an alcohol test.

Designed by Philippe Starck, instant delirium (or should I say “poison”) has been neatly packaged in a sleek aluminum tube. I can see this new product taking off with the 18-25 demographic like no other. In fact, it’s a common stereotype that most college students spend four years’ worth of weekends in a drunken stupor. Congratulations to Edwards for inventing a product which takes away any and all effort required by individuals to make complete fools of themselves.

With headlines such as “Finally, A Spray Which Gets You Instantly Drunk In A Few Seconds” or “This Spray Will Get You Instantly Drunk – But Only For A Few Seconds”, the WA|HH Quantum Sensations spray is asking for various cases of irresponsible overdose. Although the product is first releasing in Europe, Jacob Kleinman at the International Business Times puts it best, “If the product ever makes it to America’s shores, it will surely mean an epidemic of spray overdoses at colleges across the country.” This is something scientists and medical analysts should have taken into consideration well before proceeding with the product’s development.

While the tube is priced at $26, each dose comprises of .075 milliliters of alcohol. It would take approximately 1,000 sprays to reach the equivalency of the effects caused by a single drink. However, each tube is good for only about 21 hits. A consumer would need about 48 tubes to equate to one drink. This means consumers would be spending about $1,248 on their new addiction. According to some reports, the alcohol’s effects are intensified in an aerosol form, leading to the temporary drunkenness. Still, the product seems inefficient to me.

Not only is this product inefficient from a functional perspective, but also from an economic angle. My other problem with this product is that the concept of an oral spray is far from novel. Why waste time creating a technology which is nowhere close to being a new idea? Many breath-freshening sprays have already been introduced into the market. Edwards himself previously created additional flavored sprays which consumers can use to stimulate their taste buds.

When I first read about the WA|HH Quantum Sensations spray, I was surprised that someone would have spent enough time and effort to manufacture a product which would be detrimental at all levels. Shouldn’t scientists be working toward societal advances, not hindrances? To me, it seems as if scientists would be making better use of their time by focusing their attention on real problems such as reducing the use of pesticides in agriculture or working with more innovative medication. Working to create new addictions is an abuse of a chemistry degree.

Some might call this creation sheer brilliance, I call it sheer stupidity.