Synthehol was a synthetic variant of alcohol that had no intoxicating and addictive properties.
Synthehol was invented by the Ferengi. (TNG novels: Strike Zone, Power Hungry, Relics) Ferengi merchants used it in social settings in which they would serve drinks with actual alcohol to customers while they consumed synthehol. Soon the hapless victim would be totally drunk and making all sorts of deals with a Ferengi merchant who was still quite sober. Eventually the secret of synthehol was made public. At first irritated over the loss of their secret, the Ferengi got over their irritation when straight sales of synthehol turned out to be quite sizable. (TNG novel: Strike Zone)
Synthehol subsequently became a popular beverage in the Federation. Despite not having any of the deleterious effects of alcohol, synthehol was still considered an adult beverage. (TNG novel: Strike Zone) Some individuals had negative attitudes towards synthehol and believe it affected the taste of drinks. (TNG episodes: "Up the Long Ladder", "Family", "Relics"; DS9 episode: "Body Parts")
While visiting the USS Enterprise-D on their way to Daa'V, Lt. Pug Joseph referred to synthehol as "Ferengi bug juice" when asking Guinan for a drink. (TNG novel: Reunion) Fenton Lewis called it Ferengi juice. (TNG novel: Masks) Will Riker once called it "Ferengi garbage". (TNG novel: Imzadi) and Jean-Luc Picard called it "Ferengi swill". (TNG short story: "Together Again, for the First Time")
In 2369, during Quark's brief time as Grand Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance, Nava approached him and asked permission to begin selling synthehol in the Gamma Quadrant. Nava agreed to provide Quark with fifty percent of the synthehol profits. (DS9 episodes: "The Nagus", "Body Parts")
See also[]
Appendices[]
References[]
- TNG episode: "Family"
- TNG episode: "Relics"
- TNG novel: Strike Zone
- DS9 episode: "The Search, Part I"
- DS9 novel: Fallen Heroes
- DS9 novel: Devil in the Sky
- DS9 novel: The 34th Rule
External link[]
- Synthehol article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.