Level Up (A5E) Purchasing, Carrying, and Expiring Supply

[Stalker0]

All very good points, though regarding the alcohol, it only takes a small amount to kill bacteria in water so long as the source is reasonably fresh (running water or melted snow), so even a relatively small supply of strong spirits can go a long way in 'freshening up' any water scavenged along the way.

That is actually a myth pushed by many movies and the like.

True disinfecting concentrations are more like 70% alcohol (140 proof), and even that won't kill certain bacteria that can turn to spores. Anything lower than that can't be counted on to disinfect.

 

[Rune]

That is actually a myth pushed by many movies and the like.

True disinfecting concentrations are more like 70% alcohol (140 proof), and even that won't kill certain bacteria that can turn to spores. Anything lower than that can't be counted on to disinfect.

To be fair, though: “That is actually a myth pushed by many movies and the like” is a pretty good definition of D&D.

 

[tetrasodium]

being fair to the use alchohol to make water safe trope, it does have some historical underpinnings. The french used to give soldiers absinthe for that purpose to up the odds of it being safe/morale/etc. While not being hallucinogenic, it is well over 100 proof & quite good when prepared properly.

 

[Composer99]

it [absinthe] is well over 100 proof & quite good when prepared properly.

Can confirm. Last time I had some (admittedly this was 14 years ago in Vienna) it was pretty good.

 

[tetrasodium]

Can confirm. Last time I had some (admittedly this was 14 years ago in Vienna) it was pretty good.

It's been legal in the US (and most of the world) for years now, the folks from lucid have a great video on history & prep here that mentions the french soldier thing

 

[MarkB]

That is actually a myth pushed by many movies and the like.

True disinfecting concentrations are more like 70% alcohol (140 proof), and even that won't kill certain bacteria that can turn to spores. Anything lower than that can't be counted on to disinfect.

I don't know from movies. I'm going from historical examples of things like grog, watered wine and small beer, where diluted alcoholic drinks are used because if you just drink the water it'll make you ill.

A 70% solution of alcohol would be useless for hydration - the alcohol content would dehydrate you.

 

[Stalker0]

I don't know from movies. I'm going from historical examples of things like grog, watered wine and small beer, where diluted alcoholic drinks are used because if you just drink the water it'll make you ill.

A 70% solution of alcohol would be useless for hydration - the alcohol content would dehydrate you.

All true, but science is pretty clear on this one. We can literally looking the bacteria under microscope with the introduction of alcohol, and see how it effects (or doesn't effect) them.

In many cases its not the alcohol per say but the process of making the alcoholic drink that lead to a reduction in bacteria. For example, beer making often involves boiling.

Another example, the classic "pour whisky on a wound" to disinfect it.... doesn't work. Again, the alchohol must be very strong to have disinfecting properties.

 

[MarkB]

All true, but science is pretty clear on this one. We can literally looking the bacteria under microscope with the introduction of alcohol, and see how it effects (or doesn't effect) them.

In many cases its not the alcohol per say but the process of making the alcoholic drink that lead to a reduction in bacteria. For example, beer making often involves boiling.

Another example, the classic "pour whisky on a wound" to disinfect it.... doesn't work. Again, the alchohol must be very strong to have disinfecting properties.

And yet, historically, this did work. Navy grog was water with some rum poured into it, and it lasted through weeks-long voyages when water would not.

For game purposes, maybe a two step process - boil the water first to purify it, then add some alcohol to retard the build-up of bacteria.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I think the debate here comes from @Stalker0 's correct scientific position that a small amount of alcohol won't fully disinfect, but it's absolutely historical fact that humans used a small amount of alcohol to make water that would otherwise make you sick into something that one could drink.

Strong stomachs is likely also a factor here.

 

[Larnievc]

even water can have growth in it, which is why alcohol was preferred for travel in our own history

As a scummy student at uni I once grew mould in a glass of whisky and coke.