I was surprised to learn the reason Romulan ale is illegal in Star Trek

One of the recurring elements in Star Trek is the illicit blue colored drink, the Romulan ale. The drink was banned by the Federation, yet somehow the Starfleet officers managed to sneak it in. While Guinan (played by Whoopi Goldberg) in The Next Generation has also introduced the audience to some potent drinks from across the galaxy, Romulan ale has its own set of fan-following due to its illegal status. So why exactly is this alluring drink deemed illegal? Because of the Federation's trade ban against the Romulan Star Empire.

The United Federation of Planets was in a long war with the Romulan Star Empire, which resulted in a ban on several Romulan products, including the mighty blue ale. While the ban is not specific to the potent effects of the drink, it is more of a political move to curb any trade with the Romulans.

Dr. Leonard McCoy (played by DeForest Kelley) would lightheartedly gift Admiral James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) a bottle of Romulan ale on his birthday in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. McCoy will share that the illegal drink is not just for enjoyment but has medicinal value as well.

Romulan ale in the world of Star Trek

While the franchise has never really shared the origin of this drink, The Wrath of Khan presented it as a potent beverage. Blue colored drinks were often found on display in various episodes in The Original Series, but it is not until the movie that the subject was brought up when Dr. McCoy gits Kirk the drink along with reading gladded. The Romulan ale is, in fact, the perfect gift for Kirk, who is known for his adventurous streak and breaking social norms.

The drink will once again appear when Captain Kirk and the crew have a meeting with the Klingons for the peace talk negotiations in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, where they consume the drink far from the eyes of the Federation. However, later, due to the terrible hangover from the drink, Kirk will conclude that the ale will no longer be served at diplomatic events.

Even a Klingon such as Worf (played by Michael Dorn) finds the drink to be strong. In Star Trek: Nemesis, he is seen suffering the aftereffects of the drink that was a part of William T. Riker's (played by Jonathan Frakes) and Deanna Troi’s (played by Marina Sirtis) wedding. Under the influence of the drink, Worf would state,

‘Romulan ale should be illegal’

Geordi La Forge (played by LeVar Burton) will smirk and reply,

‘It is.’

However, the drink did briefly enjoy legal status when the Romulans went to war against the Dominion. In Deep Space Nine, Season 7 episode ‘Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges’, it is revealed that the trade ban was temporarily halted due to the ongoing war.

It is interesting to note that the drink exists in every timeline, as seen in Star Trek Beyond, set in the Kelvin timeline, where Montgomery Scott (played by Simon Pegg) orders not one, but three Romulan ales at Kirk’s birthday party.

Jack Crusher (played by Ed Speleers) will reveal that he had smuggled the Romulan ale in Star Trek: Picard. He states that the forbidden drink is ideal for sterilization. So, it is derived that despite the destruction of Romulus, the potent drink remains a contraband.

ALSO READ: I was surprised to learn that Star Trek’s first female captain was not Voyager’s Kathryn Janeway

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