Absinthe tempts a variety of curious imbibers, and many take their first sip as a result of the often erroneous coverage of the beverage and its mysterious ingredient: Thujone. Absinthe drinkers and enthusiasts have filled countless websites and forums arguing absinthe effects and thujone effects, and although the intriguing spirit does allegedly affect people in unique ways, this absinthe effect can be compared with the way individuals process a variety of alcohols. Vodka, wine, beer— can all differ person to person.

The artists and writers of the 19th century could be blamed for starting the wild claims that absinthe expanded consciousness with mind-altering and psychedelic effects. The Green Fairy (or, The Green Muse) was elevated from tipple to trippy, and the legend stuck. By 1915, most countries that had absinthe had banned it, further cementing legend and mystery.

Approaching 100 years later, scientists gathered pre-ban and post-ban bottles for the most wide-ranging absinthe analysis* ever conducted. Thujone was measured with special interest and test results show the majority of pre-ban absinthe samples do not exceed current European Union limitations on the substance. As suspected, ethanol alcohol was much more likely to have caused the hallucinations, numbness, facial contractions, and dementia formerly blamed on thujone content. The “absinthe madness” and “absinthism” of the Belle Époque was likely nothing more than alcoholism and its side effects.

Absinthe effects won’t make you cut off your ear ala Van Gogh, won’t make you creative, crazy, or trip. Scientists have also proven that information from decades ago claiming that thujone is similar to the chemical THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is completely incorrect. This is not to say that thujone is harmless. Thujone in high doses (far more than in absinthe) is a dangerous neurotoxin and convulsant, but in order to achieve that level of thujone toxicity with absinthe, the individual would experience severe alcohol poisoning first.

The mythological mind-altering effects of absinthe - and more specifically, thujone - have been exaggerated and hyped by many modern producers of absinth (and sometimes absinthe) as a way to increase sales of their products to those looking for a drug experience.

It is no wonder there is still a lingering distrust of thujone in legislation. Amounts of the chemical in modern absinthe must be lower than 10ppm to receive approval in the United States and European standards allow up 35ppm, however the amounts permitted on either side of the ocean are still within the range found in the pre-ban and post-ban samples analysed in the study. The traditionally-made French or Suisse absinthe we drink now is not remarkably different than that sipped by Van Gogh, Picasso, Oscar Wilde, Verlaine, Toulouse-Lautrec, or countless others throughout history.

Absinthe, our dear Green Fairy, is not a drug, and should be enjoyed as any other alcohol should be: responsibly.

See our additional Discover Absinthe pages for more information on What is Absinthe, How to Drink Absinthe, or create Absinthe Cocktails.

* Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol.56, No. 9, 2008, 10.1021/jf703568f