TABC To Release Intoxication Simulation Apps

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is creating two cell phone applications that they say will encourage and educate people to drink responsibly.

The first app will reflect the delayed response time and loss of motor-skills associated with intoxication.

“(The app) is an education tool that also has a game that’s part of it,” said TABC spokeswoman Carolyn Beck. “It will simulate what your like when your drunk.”

The second app will help people file complaints with the TABC.

But some people aren’t willing to raise a glass in favor of the apps, including King’s X bar owner, Ted Aikman.

Aikman said he’s been serving-up cocktails at King’s X seven days a week, for more than 35 years.

But in 2009 King’s X was forced to shut it’s doors for three months, after the TABC found employees over-served a man who got behind the wheel and killed two people.

Aikman said, while he understands the importance of responsible consumption, the proposed app would make it too easy to file a bogus complaint.

“It’s not right because, as it is, anyone can call in and make a complaint,” said Aikman.

“It’s already pretty easy for people if they want to file bogus complaints to just pop off an email from their IPhone or call whenever they want,” said Beck.

According to Beck, the T.ABC already has an effective system in place to handle frivolous complaints.

“I think (the complaint app) is a bad idea,” said King’s X customer Sean Mabry. “It takes the whole ‘Yelp negative review phenomenon’ to the next level and gives it legal precedence.”

Mabry was equally critical of the intoxication-simulation app.

“I think its very misleading,” said Mabry. “As a bartender myself, I actually disagree with there being a standard effect of alcohol and alcohol poisoning.”

King’s X patron Christopher Niles laughed when he heard about the simulation app.

“I just think that it’s kind of a crazy thing to try and make an app for,” said Niles. “Everyone handles alcohol differently and responds differently to it. Four drinks for one person could be nothing and for another person, they could be swinging on the chandeliers.”

According to Beck, the TABC is investing $25,000 of a $430,000 spring break grant, handed down from Texas Governor Rick Perry to develop the apps.

“We’re using the funds to focus more on education and prevention aspects than on an enforcement aspect,” said Beck.

Mabry has a different opinion on how to spend the spring break grant, “Why don’t they just hire door people to check IDs?”

Both apps are expected to be released before spring 2013 and will only be available for the IPhone and Andriod.