What is alcohol, alcohol facts, and frequently asked questions

Alcohol

Just like any normal person we like to know exactly what we’re consuming down our throats before so. Alcohol can lead to great stories, but can also lead to death (bummer) if not used responsibly. Here are some facts to help you along the way.

The Alcohol that we know in society and drinking is actually referred to as Ethanol

Alcohol (Ethanol) Definition: A liquid known by many names including Pure Alcohol, Ethyl Alcohol, Grain Alcohol, and drinking Alcohol. Alcohol is a flammable and colorless liquid. It’s considered to be a very strong and one of the oldest psychoactive drugs in the world. Alcohol is used in recreational or social drinking. It can also be used as a solvent or even fuel.

How is Alcohol made?

There are three different ways Alcohol can be made:

1. Fermentation: This process involves grain or fruit mixtures and usually yeast or something else. A distillation process is often followed for liquors or spirits.
2. A chemical combination of hydrogen mixed with carbon monoxide: This will create wood or methanol alcohol.
3. The chemical modification of common fossil fuels: This includes modifications of oil, natural gas, or coal. This is process is used for Industrial alcohol.

Random Alcohol Facts

Alcohol is not as dense as water and evaporates at a lower temperature. This is what lets it be distilled, by evaporating before water when mixed and heated.

Alcohol is clear when sitting at room temperature.

Alcohol is of course very flammable and very dangerous.

Alcohol can dissolve in water very easily.

Alcohol is classified as a depressant.

Alcohol impairs judgment (getting drunk)

Types of Alcohol

5 Ounces of Wine = 1 ½ Shots of Liquor = 12 Ounces of Beer

Click to view the different types of Alcohol

Alcohol Culture

Alcohol is embraced in many parts of the world, as well as banned in many parts of the world. Alcohol has a distinct place in many cultures whether it’s in the form of beer, wine, or spirits. Just as the world, alcohol has a very long and detailed history. We’re not trying to bore you to death so we recommend you just Google Alcohol history for more.

Random Alcohol Fun Facts

Ireland is the number 1 country consumer of alcohol on the planet

The strongest beer in the world is located in Germany and over 43% of alcohol

Most fermented beverages(beer, wine) aren’t stronger than 18% because yeast can’t grow in alcohol higher than that.

The good men and women in science have artificially created yeast that can survive in up to 25% alcohol

Alcohol has been consumed since Prehistoric times

The highest tax rates on beer are located in Norway and Finland

Side effects of Alcohol

Drunk Face

Intoxication (Alcohol Drunk): Alcohol is known to cause a person to get drunk after consumption. The more the person drinks the more intoxicated they will become.

The greater the concentration of alcohol in your drink, the faster you will become drunk (absorption).
Carbonated beverages tend to speed up the absorption of alcohol (get you drunk faster)
Food slows down the Absorption of alcohol (Possibly help sober you up)
After absorption the alcohol enters your blood stream and starts it affects on the body. This can be measure by your blood alcohol concentration (BAC Level). Your BAC level is what cops use to bust your ass for a DUI or Drunk in public.

: Hangover

Hangover and detoxification:
hangovers are known to cause headaches, upset stomachs and just not feeling good. This is caused by your body trying to detoxify itself.
Once alcohol is absorbed by the bloodstream in can leave the body in three different ways:

The kidney will eliminate five percent of alcohol in your urine

Your lungs will exhale five percent of alcohol. This is how cops bust you for DUI using a breathalyzer

The liver will chemically break down the rest of the alcohol into a type of acetic acid

The average person can eliminate around .5 oz (15 ml) of alcohol in one hour. So using that math, it would take the average person one hour to get rid of all alcohol in their system from one can on beer. Your alcohol level (BAC) obviously goes up when you consume faster than your body can get rid of!

The stages of intoxication (The stages of being drunk)

1. Drunk Euphoria (BAC = 0.03 to 0.12 percent)

Liquid courage sets in with confidence

Much shorter attention span

Flushed look

Trouble with fine motions like writing or video games

Lack of judgment or filter. Will say what comes to mind or act on it

2. Drunk Excitement (BAC = 0.09 to 0.25 percent)

Lack of balance

Vision starts to blur

Trouble remembering or understanding certain statements

Slow reaction time

Uncoordinated body movements/drunk dancing

Body senses have become less effective (hearing, smell, taste, etc.)

3. Drunk Confusion (BAC = 0.18 to 0.30 percent)

Slurred speech

Very confused and no idea what is going on

Head is going around in circles, dizzy, and stumbling

Pain tolerance is much higher

Highly emotional, whether it’s anger, depression, etc.

Vision has become blurry

Very tried and sleepy

4. Drunk Stupor (BAC = 0.25 to 0.4 percent)

Not very responsive

Will be able to hardly move at all

Not able to stand or walk

Vomiting

In and out of consciousness

5. Drunk Coma (BAC = 0.35 to 0.50 percent)

Slower Heart rate

Most likely unconscious

No reflexes

Lower body temperature

Slower breathing

6. Death (BAC more than 0.50 percent)

Parties over

halt breathing and death occurs

Long term side effects

We wish alcohol was not damaging to the body and we could drink with no care for harm, but everything in life has a price and these could be yours:

Alcoholism

Brain cells in random centers will die and reduce your total brain mass

Lives cells will die and harden the tissue, causing cirrhosis of the liver

Stomach and other ulcers will form

Male sperm count will drop from decreased hormone secretion

Anemia from low iron and vitamin B levels

Many more..

Conclusion

Alcohol is a big part of our social lives and culture. The truth is that alcohol can still ruin your life, whether from health issues or something that leads to jail time (DUI). Please drink responsibly and don’t mess it up for the rest of us!

#Sicknight!