A chemical substance found in drinks such as beer, wine, and liquor. It is also found in some medicines, mouthwashes, household products, and essential oils (scented liquid taken from certain plants). It is made by a chemical process called fermentation that uses sugars and yeast.

There are different types of alcohol. The type used to make alcoholic drinks is called ethyl alcohol (ethanol). Drinking regular or large amounts of alcohol may increase the risk of certain types of cancer, such as cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, breast, liver, colon, and rectum.

What are the different type of alcohol?

Alcohol is the primary active ingredient in some of the most popular drinks on the planet. Beer, wine, spirits, and liquors all contain varying amounts of alcohol. They all cause the well-known state of alcohol intoxication or “drunkenness.” The chemical name of the drinking alcohol we all know and love is ethyl alcohol or ethanol. But ethanol is only one of the many types of alcohol found in nature. Learn more about the four major kinds of alcohol and their uses and effects.

1. Isopropyl alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol, or isopropanol, is made from propylene gas and has strong disinfecting properties. Rubbing alcohol is diluted or watered-down isopropanol. Isopropyl alcohol is a common ingredient in cleaning products and works especially well for sterilization. It is most frequently used for household cleaning purposes like disinfecting electronics, cleaning stainless steel, refreshing sponges, and cleaning makeup brushes.

Thanks to its natural anti-bacterial properties, isopropyl alcohol can also be used medically as an antiseptic. It is also useful when inhaled, providing relief from postoperative nausea. Isopropanol is entirely unsafe for drinking and can cause severe toxic effects if swallowed in large quantities. Symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning include flushing, vomiting, low blood pressure, respiratory depression, and dizziness.

2. Methyl alcohol

Methyl alcohol, methanol, or wood alcohol is most commonly used in manufacturing processes. It is an industrial-strength solvent used to make products such as paint removers, antifreeze, and printing ink.

Methanol is also a commercially important base reactant used to produce compounds like acetone, methane, and formaldehyde. These byproducts can then be used to manufacture everything from plastics to explosives. Methanol and its vapors are highly flammable and require special care for use and transportation.

Although methanol has an odor and appearance similar to ethanol, it is more extremely toxic. Ingesting as little as 10 mL can result in permanent blindness, and 30 mL can induce coma or cause death. To keep people from drinking ethanol intended for industrial use, small quantities of methanol are often added to it. This creates denatured (or contaminated) alcohol that is poisonous to the human body.

Ethyl alcohol

Ethyl alcohol or ethanol is the chemical name of the essence found in all alcoholic beverages. It is the only type of alcohol that is safe for consumption. While it can be used as a fuel additive or as an industrial solvent, it is most commonly used for recreational purposes because of its distinct effect on mood and behavior.

It depresses the central nervous system by enhancing the impact of the neurotransmitter GABA in the brain. The drunkenness caused by alcohol exhibits effects like euphoria, happiness, increased sociability, and decreased anxiety. It also exhibits impairment of memory, cognition, and motor and sensory functions.

Yeast or bacteria chemically convert sugars into ethanol through the process of fermentation. Sugars that are used to produce ethanol can come from barley, wheat, grapes, or other grains and fruits depending on the type of drink being created.

Fermented beverages can be drunk directly, or can be further distilled to a higher alcohol percentage. All alcoholic drinks can be divided into two broad categories based on their manufacturing processes:

3. Unstilled ethanol

Undistilled or fermented alcohol only goes through the fermentation process and is not clarified or refined in any way. There are hundreds of types of undistilled alcoholic drinks but the most popular ones are beer, wine, and cider.

They mainly differ in the crop or fruit used as the base and the variety of yeast used for fermentation. Slight differences in the soil composition or weather in the area of production can also cause changes in the drinks’ flavors. Fermented beverages do not exceed 15% alcohol by volume unless they have been modified externally.

4. Distilled ethanol

Distilled alcohol is fermented ethanol that has been put through a distillation or purification process. This is done to increase the alcohol by volume (ABV) ratio of the beverages. The distillation process separates the alcohol from the fermented brew so that it becomes much more concentrated. Distilled drinks usually range from 20% to 70% ABV.

Although it is possible to distill spirits to 95%, most drinks are about 40% ABV. Vodka, gin, brandy, whiskey, rum, and tequila are some of the best-known distilled drinks. Because of their high alcohol content, it might be necessary to mix distilled drinks with water, soft drinks, or fruit juices to make them more palatable.

5 Interesting Facts About Alcohol’s Effects

1. Alcohol affects men and women differently

After a young woman and a young man drink the same amount of alcohol, the woman will have a higher blood alcohol level. This is because younger women produce less of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which breaks down alcohol in the stomach.

2. Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels

The symptoms of alcohol intoxication and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) are similar. Diabetics should monitor their blood sugar levels while drinking, as hypoglycemia requires appropriate medical attention. If you are diabetic, talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol.

3. Moderate alcohol consumption could help protect against heart disease

According to the American Heart Association, moderate alcohol consumption increases good HDL cholesterol and reduces plaque buildup in the arteries.

Moderate alcohol consumption means no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. To reduce your risk of heart disease, increase your physical activity and eat a healthy diet.

4. Many factors influence how people react to alcohol

Your age, gender, genetics, overall health and history of alcohol abuse can influence how your body reacts to alcohol. Alcohol flows through your organs based on the amount of water that is in them. Typically, women and older men have less water in their organs. As a result, less alcohol can enter their organs, so it stays in their bloodstreams for longer periods of time instead.

5. Drinking does not actually warm you up

Consuming alcohol causes blood to rush to the skin’s surface, which makes you feel warmer. However, alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, making you actually lose heat more quickly. Alcohol also impedes the body’s warmth process by causing chills.

What are the drinking effect of alcohol ?

What is excessive drinking?

Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any drinking by pregnant women or people younger than age 21.

• Binge drinking, the most common form of excessive drinking, is defined as consuming
  • For women, 4 or more drinks during a single occasion.
  • For men, 5 or more drinks during a single occasion.

• Heavy drinking is defined as consuming
  • For women, 8 or more drinks per week.
  • For men, 15 or more drinks per week.

Most people who drink excessively are not alcoholics or alcohol dependent.

What is moderate drinking?

There are some people who should not drink any alcohol, including those who are:

• Younger than age 21.
• Pregnant or may be pregnant.
• Driving, planning to drive, or participating in other activities requiring skill, coordination, and alertness.
• Taking certain prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol.
• Suffering from certain medical conditions.
• Recovering from alcoholism or are unable to control the amount they drink.

Short-Term Health Risks

Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful health conditions. These are most often the result of binge drinking and include the following:

• Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.
• Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.
• Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels.
• Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. These behaviors can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
• Miscarriage and stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) among pregnant women

Long-Term Health Risks

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including:

• High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.
• Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.
• Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick.
• Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.
• Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
• Social problems, including family problems, job-related problems, and unemployment.
• Alcohol use disorders, or alcohol dependence.

By not drinking too much, you can reduce the risk of these short- and long-term health risks.

Way to Stop Drinking

Here are six ways to stop drinking alcohol:

1. Counseling

Therapy can help you self-reflect and understand the reason you drink. It can also help you change your thought patterns to avoid alcohol.

2. Change Your Friend Group

Spending time with people who always drink can tempt you to drink again. Spending time with people who don’t drink helps you practice new habits.

In some cases, many people who quit drinking find that their drinking friends are not interested in continuing friendships with someone who no longer drinks.

3. Remove Access to Alcohol

Take alcohol out of your house. Avoid bars and liquor stores.

4. Change Your Habits

Reshape your habits that were linked to drinking. For example, if you go to happy hour often, change locations to a café.

5. Support Groups

You can attend alcoholic support group meetings. This will provide you with a community of other sober friends.

6. Seek Treatment

Attending an outpatient or inpatient rehabilitation facility is the best way to stop drinking. This is primarily due to medical supervision and care.

Ways to Reduce Alcohol Use

1. Commit to Reducing Alcohol in Writing

List the reasons why you want to cut back and refer to the list for motivation.

2. Set a limit goal

For example, commit to changing your drinking habits. Limit yourself to two standard drinks per week or only drink one day a week. Or approach this strategy from the reverse and schedule alcohol-free days.

3. Journal about your drinking for a few weeks

Keep track of when you drink, how much, what you’re doing, and how you feel before, during, and after drinking.

4. Don’t keep alcohol at home

This will naturally reduce cravings and urges to drink.

5. Drink slowly

Set a time for how long it will take you to sip a drink and try not to finish a drink sooner than this time.

6. Counter each alcoholic drink with water, soda, or juice

This can also help reduce the number of drinks you consume in a night. 

7. Schedule activities that don’t revolve around drinking

Instead of meeting friends for a drink, go for a walk, see a movie, or play sports.

8. Let friends and family members know

Also, ask them to support your efforts. A support system greatly increases your chance of success.

9. Avoid places and people that test your willpower

Try to go places that do not encourage drinking. 

Reference : medicinenet.com , stlukeshealth.org , cdc.gov , alcoholrehabhelp.org