“I was a little drunk at the time” P. Floyd
You pour a flammable liquid down your throat, one that’s also a powerful solvent that strips away the protective mucous, and you wonder why it burns?
Ah, I answered too quiclkly. The cooling effect of alcohol poured on your skin is due to rapid evaporation. No cooling breeze in your esophagus to mask other sensations.
But, Padeye! Other flammable drinks have no noticeable effect, and besides, your body heat in the throat is enough to evaporate (and cool even without a breeze)! The breeze isn’t even necessary.
Yes, I still wonder why! 
Other flammable drinks? If you’re drinking flammable things other than alcohol, no wonder your throat hurts!
“Other flammable drinks have no noticeable effect”
I’m stumped, I don’t know of many other flammable drinks besides distilled spirits. Can you give me some examples?
As for evaporation to have cooling effect the warmer molecules need to go somewhere so that the remaining ones have an average lower temperature.
That’s misleading though because the “heat” you feel is not thermodynamic heat. Cayenne pepper and other irritants do not raise the temperature in your mouth but causes the exact same nerve reaction as a themal burn. Same is true in the opposite way of mints/menthols which make your mouth feel cooler but don’t lower the temperature.
The burning is the flavor of the whiskey.
I think we’re forgetting the real issue here, that being “What is the difference between ‘flammable’ and ‘inflammable’”.
I thought the burning sensation was because alcohol of that concentration removes water from the cells near the surface, therefore irritating them. Just a WAG.
It burns to remind you of what a good time you are having. Also to keep you awake while you are having such a good time.
You’re pouring a toxin into your body, and you wonder that it hurts?
Of course, it’s such a fun toxin… I do love alcohol hic
I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail.
I’d have to agree with Padeye, he’s got the best reason. The mucous membranes are extremely sensitive, and concentrated, with no air circulation, alcohol is gonna burn the hell out of you.
Think of Altoids. Or Tic Tacs. Or any peppermint candy. One on your tongue is nice and sweet; chew up a handful and swallow the chunks and dust, see how your throat feels.
:eek:
:eek:
There is no difference between something that is flammable and inflammable. Something that will not burn is NON Flammable
We must blame them and cause a fuss before somebody thinks of blaming us.
Sheila Broflofski