I'll jump before the Cardinal does, though he's welcome to correct me as well ;-) Capsaicin is not an acid- it is an amide. If it were an acid, we'd be doing major damage to ourselves and it would result in tissue damage, which it does not. Drain bamage, maybe ;-) Vodka is not alkaline because of it's alcohol content- the one has absolutely no relation to the other. Alcoholic beverages work because cap is alcohol soluable- it is not 'neutralized', just washed away or diluted. -Jim C Mild to Wild