An alcoholic beverage is any drink that contains more than a minimal amount of ethanol or ethyl alcohol. This is achieved by a process called fermentation, which is the natural result of yeast digestion of the sugars found in ingredients like fruit, cereal grain or other starches. Almost any source of sugar and yeast can produce alcohol. An alcoholic beverage, a depressant when consumed in low doses causes euphoria and sociability but when consumed in high doses causes intoxication, stupor and unconsciousness. Long term consumption of alcoholic beverages can lead to alcohol abuse, physical dependence and alcoholism.
Tiny traces of ethanol may be present in non-alcohol beverages, including juices. Some beer, wine and spirit drinks although designed to look and taste like alcoholic beverages, contain very little ethanol in them and are hence termed as ‘non-alcohol beverages’.
Alcoholic beverages, although recipes vary are broadly classified into three categories:
It is typically made with barley that is sprouted and roasted, cooked with water, fermented with yeast and then flavoured with the flowers of the Hops plant.
Wine is made from grapes and sometimes other fruits that are made into a juice and then fermented.
These are made from grain, fruit or other sugar sources that are first fermented and then distilled in a heating and cooling process that concentrates the alcohol.
Alcohol is one of the most widely used recreational drugs in the world. Archaeologists have discovered Stone Age jugs that have lead them to believe that fermented drinks existed as early as the Neolithic Period (10,000 BC). Animals also react similar to humans when they consume alcohol.
Alcoholic beverages have been classified as a Group 1 Carcinogen. Studies show that alcohol consumption can cause cancer in the female breast, colorectum, larynx, liver, oesophagus, oral cavity and pharynx. It is a probability that alcohol is also the cause of pancreatic cancer. Alcohol in carbonated drinks is absorbed faster by the body than alcohol in non-carbonated drinks. The short term effects of alcoholic beverages include psychological effects on the user, a flushed appearance in the face, lethargy, sedation, balance problems, blurred vision, respiratory depression and pulmonary aspiration. The long term effects of alcohol on the body includes increase in the risk of heart disease, stroke, atrial fibrillation, reduce in life expectancy, cancer, liver cirrhosis and alcoholism.
Alcohol can be used as aperitifs and digestifs, the former is used to serve before a meal to stimulate appetite while the latter is used to improve digestion after a meal. They can also be used as flavouring agents in making stocks and for braising and are also a source of food energy as many of the alcoholic beverages contain carbohydrates. The laws on alcohol regulate the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, thereby seeking to reduce the adverse health effects and social impacts of alcohol consumption.
