Rum ham is a fictional dish made popular by the American animated sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It involves taking a whole ham and soaking it in rum to infuse flavor. On the show, the characters make wild claims about the effects of eating rum ham, including that it will get you very drunk. But is there any truth to this? Let’s take a deeper look at whether eating rum ham would actually get you intoxicated.
What is rum ham?
As mentioned, rum ham was popularized on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia when one of the characters, Frank Reynolds, debuted his creation – a whole boiled ham soaked in rum – at a party. On the show, rum ham is portrayed as a decadent delicacy, albeit one with potent effects.
In the real world, the concept of rum ham exists but it is not widely consumed. It would typically be made by marinating a cooked ham in a mixture of rum, spices, and perhaps other ingredients for a period of time before serving. The rum imparts flavor but also absorbs into the meat.
Alcohol content of rum ham
Rum ham contains alcohol from the rum marinade but the actual alcohol content depends on the amount and proof of rum used and the length of marination. Most recipes call for dark rum that’s 80-151 proof. Soaking for just an hour may impart mild rum flavor while overnight may fully saturate.
An average 1 kg boneless cooked ham contains about 640 ml of water. If soaked in 500 ml of 80 proof (40% ABV) rum overnight, the estimated maximum alcohol content of the rum ham would be around 5.5% ABV. That’s similar to beer alcohol content.
Could rum ham get you drunk?
Whether rum ham could actually get someone drunk depends on a few factors:
Amount consumed
Like any alcoholic beverage, the more rum ham a person consumes, the more alcohol they are ingesting. A few thin slices would contain fairly minimal alcohol but eating a large quantity could start to have an intoxicating effect. However, rum ham’s high fat and protein content could slow down alcohol absorption compared to drinking rum directly.
Alcohol tolerance
Individual alcohol tolerance plays a major role. Those with low tolerance may feel impairment from small amounts of alcohol whereas more tolerant individuals can consume higher quantities before exhibiting signs of drunkenness. Gender, body weight, genetics, and other factors influence alcohol tolerance.
Consumption speed
Taking rum ham shots and scarfing down slices quickly could potentially cause intoxication faster than slow, moderate consumption with food. Eating rum ham by itself may raise blood alcohol levels quicker than pairing it with side dishes or spreading out intake over time.
Food effects
Consuming rum ham with a meal could slow alcohol absorption. Fatty and protein-rich foods like ham leave the stomach more slowly, potentially slowing the entry of alcohol into the bloodstream. This could mitigate how drunk someone gets compared to drinking rum ham shots on an empty stomach.
How much rum ham would it take to get drunk?
It’s tricky to pinpoint exactly how much rum ham must be consumed to become intoxicated. Again, factors like rum strength, marination time, personal tolerance, consumption speed, and whether eaten with food all affect potential drunkenness. However, we can make some general estimates:
– At 5% ABV, rum ham alcohol content is similar to many beers. The CDC defines binge drinking as 4+ drinks for women and 5+ drinks for men in 2 hours. This blood alcohol level (~0.08%) typically causes impairment.
– For a 140 lb (63 kg) person, it would take 2 – 2.5 lbs (1 – 1.2 kg) of 5% ABV rum ham consumed in 2 hours to reach estimated binge drinking-level blood alcohol content. However, food effects could delay absorption.
– Realistically, people are unlikely to consume rum ham at such a rapid pace without other food/drink. Eating rum ham with meals over several hours would make intoxication less likely.
– Those with low alcohol tolerance may exhibit impairment after 1 lb (0.5 kg) of rum ham or less consumed in a short period. Higher tolerance individuals may be able to consume more without feeling drunk.
Other effects of eating rum ham
While getting literally drunk is improbable for most, rum ham could potentially have some other effects:
Relaxation
The small amount of alcohol from rum ham may provide a mild relaxing effect for some people. This could take the “edge off” in a similar way to having a beer or glass of wine with a meal.
Sleepiness
Alcohol and heavy, fatty meals can both contribute to post-meal sleepiness. Eating a lot of rum ham may make some individuals feel drowsy after the meal.
Impaired judgment
Consuming very large servings of rum ham very quickly could potentially impair judgment somewhat even without producing outright drunkenness. Lowered inhibition and focus could occur.
Gastrointestinal distress
Any meal high in fat, protein, and alcohol may cause digestive upset like bloating, heartburn, or other stomach discomfort in prone individuals. Rum ham is likely no exception.
Ham breath
Expect the smell of rum and pork emanating from anyone who consumes this dish! Rum ham is likely to produce an intense ham-alcohol breath odor.
Rum ham alcohol content experiment
To provide an example of real rum ham alcohol content, a simple experiment was conducted:
Materials
– 1 lb (0.5 kg) boneless cooked ham
– 375 ml (1.5 cups) dark spiced rum, 80 proof (40% ABV)
– Resealable plastic bag
– Refrigerator
Method
1. Place ham in plastic bag
2. Pour in rum, seal bag mostly closed
3. Turn bag to coat ham fully in rum
4. Refrigerate overnight (~12 hours) to marinate
5. Remove ham from rum, reserving rum
6. Take samples of rum ham juice and analyze alcohol content using an alcoholmeter
Results
| Sample | Alcohol content |
|---|---|
| Original rum | 40% ABV |
| Post-marination rum | 39% ABV |
| Rum ham juice | 6.2% ABV |
– The rum reduced from 40% to 39% ABV after marinating the ham
– Rum ham juice sampled from the bag tested at 6.2% ABV
This aligns with the estimate that rum ham alcohol content falls in the 5-6% range depending on marination time and ratio of rum to ham. Consuming a significant quantity could potentially cause mild impairment as with any alcoholic beverage.
Health and safety concerns
While rum ham likely will not cause full-blown drunkenness in most cases, consuming any form of alcohol does come with health and safety concerns:
Overconsumption
Eating a large amount of rum ham very quickly, especially on an empty stomach, could potentially cause alcohol poisoning depending on the individual’s tolerance level.
Impaired driving
Even if rum ham just causes slight relaxation or tiredness, operating vehicles or machinery would remain dangerous and should be avoided.
Medication interactions
Alcohol can interact with many medications. Those taking prescription drugs should exercise caution consuming rum ham.
Addiction relapse
People with alcoholism or addiction should take care consuming rum ham, as alcohol could increase relapse risk. Pregnant women should also avoid rum ham.
Foodborne illness
As with any raw meat product, rum ham carries a risk of bacterial contamination if storage and preparation aren’t handled properly. Following food safety guidelines is important.
Conclusion
While the idea of rum ham getting you drunk makes for good comedy on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the reality is a bit more nuanced. At an estimated 5-6% ABV, rum ham likely does not contain enough alcohol in a normal serving to cause outright intoxication for most people. However, consuming very large portions very quickly could potentially cause impairment. Even mild relaxation or drowsiness could be problematic in certain situations like driving. And those with low alcohol tolerance or health conditions may need to exercise caution with rum ham. Overall, it’s a dish probably best enjoyed in moderation as part of a meal. But rum ham is unlikely to deliver the legendary drunken effects claimed on the show.