Absinthe, which inspiration-seeking artists once drunk in excess, is not a psychedelic beverage after all, say international researchers.

Instead, they say, the drink's reputation is down to nothing more exotic than its high alcohol content.

German researcher Dr Dirk Lachenmeier of the Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Karlsruhe and colleagues publish their study online in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Absinthe has been dubbed the 'the green fairy' or 'the green muse' and was once widely used by 19th century Parisian bohemians, many of whom believed it could expand consciousness.

But the absinthe contains 70% alcohol.

And he says a high alcohol concentration is required to keep the oils in solution.