What is Alcohol?
Chemically referred to as ethanol or ethyl alcohol, alcohol is an organic compound formed when yeast ferments the sugars in certain types of food, meaning that it breaks down without oxygen. Its chemical formula is C2H5OH. There are, of course, other types of alcohol, such as isopropyl or butyl alcohol, but they are not safe for human consumption, being used for other purposes.
It is an ingredient that exists in all types of alcoholic beverages that causes the feeling that people call drunkenness. As examples of alcohol formation, wine uses the sugar found in grapes, beer is made from the sugar in malted barley, which is a type of grain, and cider is from sugar in apples. According to this model, alcoholic beverages are formed from sugar in certain plants.
Alcohol is considered to be a ‘sedative hypnotic drug’ due to its numerous effects on one’s body and brain, mainly depressing the central nervous system while consumed in high amounts. Lower doses lead to an increased feeling of euphoria and talkativeness, meaning it acts as a stimulant. More than 85% of the North American population confirmed that they’d consumed alcohol at some point in their life. Even though drinking may seem like a method of relaxation and personal enjoyment, it can quickly negatively impact one’s life, as consuming it involves multiple side effects that may lead to severe complications.