A new drink called “Liquid Smoking” promises to help smokers quit smoking by giving them the same kick as nicotine with a delicious fruity flavor. The beverage isn’t designed to help kick an addiction to smoking but, rather, to help smokers get a fix in places where they would usually not be allowed to smoke, like restaurants, airplanes, movie theaters or hospital delivery rooms.

The beverage doesn’t contain any actual nicotine but, rather, a mix of roots from South African plants:

It says it does not contain the highly addictive drug nicotine, but a potent mix of roots from South African plants, which has been used since the 14th century by bushmen.

Oh how exotic. Be real, it’s probably made from lamb retinas, red #5, chloride and Sprite. The drink’s creators are not putting an age limit on the drink, but suggest that it should not be consumed by people under age 15. Anti-smoking groups, however, would rather it not be consumed by anyone:

‘Although we welcome anything which is a genuine alternative, many of these are totally unregulated and we only have the manufacturer’s word about what they contain.

‘We would be concerned about any health claims that are unsubstantiated, and at this stage we wouldn’t encourage people to buy them.’

The group also criticised the packaging, which is designed to look like a pack of cigarettes, saying it could further encourage smoking.

We’ll stick to drinking malt liquor until we pass out.

Pour yourself a cigarette: The new ‘Liquid Smoking’ drink that promises an instant high for smokers trying to beat the ban [Daily Mail]