BOSTON -- A party trend making the rounds in Europe could be headed to a bar near you. It's a way to consume alcohol without the glass. The makers call it "AWOL" or alcohol without liquid.

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that some critics in Massachusetts are calling for a ban on AWOL.

AWOL is made with a machine popular in Europe that vaporizes alcohol. Consumers inhale the vapors getting a direct high very fast. Massachusetts officials, however, called it stupidity.

"Because the alcohol is inhaled through the nasal membrane, it is absorbed into the blood much faster, providing a more rapid and intense feeling of intoxication," Massachusetts Treasurer Tim Cahill said.

"On the Internet, just punch in A-W-O-L you get a bunch of states where somebody has a franchise. It's a get rich quick scheme," said Ed Melia, of Quincy.

Legislators said they're trying to get ahead of demand. So far, no one in Massachusetts has applied for a license to put the machines in bars. About a dozen states are considering similar bans on the vaporizers.

"It is a very aggressive marketing campaign geared toward young people and it is essentially taking binge drinking to a different level of dangerousness," said Sen. Mark Montigny, of New Bedford.

"There is no upside to this. It promotes binge drinking; it promotes this too good to be true feeling," said Rep. Vincent Pedone, of Worcester.

No one spoke in favor of AWOL at the hearing. Authorities said it's targeted at young people who already have issues with alcohol.

"Alcohol kills six and a half times the number of people killed by cocaine, heroin and every other illegal drug combined," Cahill said.

The makers are looking for U.S. dealers to sell their machines. Critics said AWOL glorifies reckless consumption.