A new program from the Portland Hotel Society in Vancouver teaches alcoholics how to brew their own beer. The program is an effort to provide alcoholics a safer option than drinking toxic alcoholic substances which they may be able to procure for cheaper, according to NPR.
The program's executive director, Mark Townsend, says that he'd prefer that the alcoholics didn't drink. "But if they do, we'd rather they didn't drink hand sanitizer."
A common problem for severe alcoholics is the consumption of household chemicals that may contain alcohol. The program is designed to teach the alcoholics a useful skill, instill pride in their accomplishment, and give them a less dangerous alternative to the cheaper toxic options.
For 10 dollars, and a series of agreements about lifestyle and commitments to programs, the alcoholics receive a brewing lesson, and a 5 liter jug of their homebrew. The brewers pair up in teams of 4 to craft whichever style of beer they would like, and are instructed and supervised by a master brewer.
The brewers must also attend a meeting called "Drinker's Lounge", which serves as counseling, and provides a gun amnesty styled alcohol swap. For bringing in a bottle of hand sanitizer, or similar product, you can receive a bottle of the real stuff.
The project is cheaper than going to a liquor store to buy official alcohol, and perhaps even cheaper than purchasing the more dangerous substances. The program currently uses homebrew kits, which they purchased from a local homebrew store, yet they have plans in the future to move into making their own recipes and utilizing an all-grain brewing system.
The program has captured national attention, and has stirred some small controversy.
