Disclaimer!

This post is created with the help of Google AI “Gemini” and is written for documentation and entertainment purposes only. Always do your own research and be skeptical about everything you see and read on the internet.

What is alcohol?

Alcohol, commonly known as ethanol, is a psychoactive chemical substance made from fermenting sugars in grains, fruits, or vegetables, acting as a central nervous system depressant that slows brain activity, causing intoxication (drunkenness) and affecting mood, movement, and thinking. While the term “alcohol” can refer to a class of chemicals, in drinks like beer, wine, and spirits, it specifically means ethanol, which slows messages between the brain and body, leading to euphoria at low doses and sedation or impaired function at higher doses.

How it’s made

Fermentation

Yeast consumes sugars in plants (like grapes for wine, barley for beer) and produces ethanol and carbon dioxide.

Distillation

Spirits (like vodka, whiskey) undergo distillation, removing water to concentrate the ethanol, making them much stronger.

Effects on the body

Depressant

Slows Down the brain and central nervous system.

Intoxication

Affects thinking, behavior, coordination, and mood.

Rapid Absorbtion

Enters the bloodstream quickly through the stomach and small intestine.

Types of alcoholic beverages

Beer

Lower alcohol content( around 0.09% – 6%).

Wine

Moderate content (around 12% -14%).

Spirits (Liquor)

High content (around 40% – 50%).

Broader context

Chemical Class

In chemistry, “alcohol” refers to any molecule with an oxygen and hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom, but “ethanol” is the drinkable type.

Health Risks

Excessive consumption is linked to various cancers, organ damage (especially liver and brain), and dependency.