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] is a ], as are all ] that contain ].<ref name="drugs - alcohol">{{cite web|title=Drugs info - alcohol|url=http://www.drugscience.org.uk/drugs-info/alcohol/}}</ref>]]
] is a ], as are all ] that contain ].<ref name="drugs - alcohol">{{cite web|title=Drugs info - alcohol|url=http://www.drugscience.org.uk/drugs-info/alcohol/}}</ref>]]
''']''', commonly referred to as ''']''' in this context, is widely consumed for enjoyment, for recreational purposes, or for its anxiolytic, euphoriant, depressant, hypnotic and sedative effects. The most common mode of consumption is the drinking of ]; it may also be consumed via ] or other routes. Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused drugs in the world. (Meropol, 1996)<ref>http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1010220-overview</ref>
In ], '''alcohol''', colloquially known as '''beverage alcohol''', or '''drinking alcohol''', is a class of ]s<ref>{{cite web|author=USA |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2947861/ |title=Disparity between tonic and phasic ethanol-induced dopamine increases in the nucleus accumbens of rats |publisher=Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |date=2013-03-25 |accessdate=2013-09-17}}</ref><ref>Drugs and society - Page 189, Glen (Glen R.) Hanson, Peter J. Venturelli, Annette E. Fleckenstein - 2006</ref> with ], ], ], ] and ], and ] effects. '''Alcohol''' is one of the most commonly abused drugs in the world (Meropol, 1996)<ref>http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1010220-overview</ref> and part of the ]. In general, the labels of beverages containing significant ] (ABV) must state the actual alcoholic strength (i.e., "x% alc. by vol."), this helps prevent people from unknowingly ] of alcohol or engaging in other risky behavior without awareness of their level of intoxication.
In general, the labels of beverages containing significant ] (ABV) must state the actual alcoholic strength (i.e., "x% alc. by vol."), this helps prevent people from unknowingly ] of alcohol or engaging in other risky behavior without awareness of their level of intoxication.
This article is about the use of alcohol as a drug. For beverages containing alcohol, see alcoholic beverage. For ethanol substitute, see substituted alcohols. For alcohol abuse, see alcoholism.
Ball-and-stick model of the hydroxyl (-OH) functional group in an alcohol molecule (R3COH). The three "R's" stand for carbon substituents or hydrogen atoms.Wine is a psychoactive drug, as are all beverages that contain alcohol.
Ethanol, commonly referred to as alcohol in this context, is widely consumed for enjoyment, for recreational purposes, or for its anxiolytic, euphoriant, depressant, hypnotic and sedative effects. The most common mode of consumption is the drinking of alcoholic beverages; it may also be consumed via inhalation or other routes. Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused drugs in the world. (Meropol, 1996)
In general, the labels of beverages containing significant alcohol by volume (ABV) must state the actual alcoholic strength (i.e., "x% alc. by vol."), this helps prevent people from unknowingly driving under the influence of alcohol or engaging in other risky behavior without awareness of their level of intoxication.
History
Originally the term alcohol referred to the primary alcohol, ethanol, the dominating alcohol in alcoholic beverages that are subject to alcohol laws including alcohol monopoly and alcohol taxes in countries that regulate their sale and consumption. However, since then other alcohols have been identified, including isopropanol found in Jamaican rum, which contributes an estimated 21% to the total alcohol intoxication in 40% ABV rum. A tertiary alcohol named tert-Amyl alcohol has been identified in beer (the third-most popular drink overall, after water and tea). tert-Amyl alcohol has been sold as an ethanol substitute by some smartshops.
Alcoholic beverage ingredients
In nature, all alcohols act as psychoactive drugs which vary in potency and effects. Excessive concentrations of some alcohols (other than ethanol) may cause off-flavors, sometimes causing a product to taste "spicy", "hot", or "solvent-like".
Some beverages such as rum, whisky (especially Bourbon), incompletely rectified vodka (e.g. Siwucha), and traditional ales and ciders are expected to have relatively high concentrations of non-hazardous aroma alcohols as part of their flavor profile; European legislation demands a minimum content of higher alcohols in certain distilled beverages (spirits) to give them their expected distinct flavour.
Primary alcohols
These are simple alcohols unless otherwise specified.
Ball-and-stick model of tert-Amyl alcohol (2M2B), which is 20 times more intoxicating than ethanol and like all tertiary alcohols, cannot be metabolised to toxic aldehydes.
Ethanol is the principal psychoactive constituent in alcoholic beverages. With depressant effects on the central nervous system, it has a complex mode of action and affects multiple systems in the brain, most notably increasing the activity of GABA receptors. Through positive allosteric modulation, it enhances the activity of naturally produced GABA. Other psychoactives such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates exert their effects by binding to the same receptor complex, thus have similar CNS depressant effects.
Alcoholic beverages vary considerably in ethanol content and in foodstuffs they are produced from. Most alcoholic beverages can be broadly classified as fermented beverages, beverages made by the action of yeast on sugary foodstuffs, or distilled beverages, beverages whose preparation involves concentrating the ethanol in fermented beverages by distillation. The ethanol content of a beverage is usually measured in terms of the volume fraction of ethanol in the beverage, expressed either as a percentage or in alcoholic proof units.
Fermented beverages can be broadly classified by the foodstuff they are fermented from. Beers are made from cereal grains or other starchy materials, wines and ciders from fruit juices, and meads from honey. Cultures around the world have made fermented beverages from numerous other foodstuffs, and local and national classifications for various fermented beverages abound.
Distilled beverages are made by distilling fermented beverages. Broad categories of distilled beverages include whiskeys, distilled from fermented cereal grains; brandies, distilled from fermented fruit juices; and rum, distilled from fermented molasses or sugarcane juice. Vodka and similar neutral grain spirits can be distilled from any fermented material (grain and potatoes are most common); these spirits are so thoroughly distilled that no tastes from the particular starting material remain. Numerous other spirits and liqueurs are prepared by infusing flavors from fruits, herbs, and spices into distilled spirits. A traditional example is gin, which is created by infusing juniper berries into a neutral grain alcohol.
The ethanol content in alcoholic beverages can be increased by means other than distillation. Applejack is traditionally made by freeze distillation, by which water is frozen out of fermented apple cider, leaving a more ethanol-rich liquid behind. Ice beer (also known by the German term Eisbier or Eisbock) is also freeze-distilled, with beer as the base beverage. Fortified wines are prepared by adding brandy or some other distilled spirit to partially fermented wine. This kills the yeast and conserves a portion of the sugar in grape juice; such beverages are not only more ethanol-rich but are generally sweeter than other wines.
Alcoholic beverages are used in cooking for their flavors and because alcohol dissolves hydrophobic flavor compounds.
Just as industrial ethanol is used as feedstock for the production of industrial acetic acid, alcoholic beverages are made into vinegar. Wine and cider vinegar are both named for their respective source alcohols, whereas malt vinegar is derived from beer.
Carbon dioxide
Alcohol in carbonated beverages is absorbed faster than alcohol in non-carbonated drinks. Another study also confirmed this, conducted at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom gave subjects equal amounts of flat and sparkling Champagne which contained the same levels of alcohol. After 5 minutes following consumption, the group that had the sparkling wine had 54 milligrams of alcohol in their blood while the group that had the same sparkling wine, only flat, had 39 milligrams.
Since ancient times, people around the world have been drinking alcoholic beverages and it still remains very popular for recreational drug use. Reasons for drinking alcoholic beverages vary and include:
In countries that have a drinking culture, social stigma may cause many people not to view alcohol as a drug because it is an important part of social events. In these countries, many young binge drinkers prefer to call themselves hedonists rather than binge drinkers or recreational drug users. Undergraduate students often position themselves outside the categories of "serious" or "anti-social" drinkers, or "drugged" while drunked. However, about 40 percent of college students in the United States could be considered alcoholics according to new criteria in DSM-5 but most college binge drinkers and drug users don't develop lifelong problems.
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing. It is considered by some to be a disease. In psychiatry several other terms have been used, specifically "alcohol abuse", "alcohol dependence," and "alcohol use disorder" which have slightly different definitions. Alcohol misuse has the potential to damage almost every organ in the body, including the brain. The cumulative toxic effects of chronic alcohol abuse can cause both medical and psychiatric problems.
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse, as described in the DSM-IV, is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. Alcohol abuse is sometimes referred to by the less specific term alcoholism. However, many definitions of alcoholism exist, and only some are compatible with alcohol abuse. There are two types of alcoholics: those who have anti-social and pleasure-seeking tendencies, and those who are anxiety-ridden people who are able to go without drinking for long periods of time but are unable to control themselves once they start. Binge drinking is another form of alcohol abuse. According to research done through international surveys, the heaviest drinkers are the United Kingdom's adolescent generation.
Alcohol dependence
Alcohol dependence is a substance related disorder in which an individual is addicted to alcohol either physically or mentally, and continues to use alcohol despite significant areas of dysfunction, evidence of physical dependence, and/or related hardship.
Alcohol-related crimes
Results of the ISCD 2010 study ranking the levels of damage caused by drugs, in the opinion of drug-harm experts.
Driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), is the crime of driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or other drugs including those prescribed by physicians.
In the case of alcohol, a drunk driver's level of intoxication is typically determined by a measurement of blood alcohol content or BAC. A BAC measurement in excess of a specific threshold level, such as 0.05% or 0.08%, defines the criminal offense with no need to prove impairment. In some jurisdictions, there is an aggravated category of the offense at a higher BAC level, such as 0.12%. In most countries, anyone who is convicted of injuring or killing someone while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs can be heavily fined in addition to being given a lengthy prison sentence.
Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) is a sexual assault carried out after the victim has become incapacitated due to having consumed alcohol or other drugs.
Alcohol remains the most commonly used predator drug, being readily available as well as legal, and is said to be used in the majority of sexual assaults. Many assailants use alcohol because their victims often willingly imbibe it, and can be encouraged to drink enough to lose inhibitions or consciousness. Sex with an unconscious victim is considered rape in most if not all jurisdictions, and some assailants have committed "rapes of convenience" whereby they have assaulted a victim after he or she had become unconscious from drinking too much.
Outbreaks of methanol poisoning have occurred when methanol is used to adulterate moonshine (bootleg liquor).
Methanol has a high toxicity in humans. If as little as 10 mL of pure methanol is ingested, for example, it can break down into formic acid, which can cause permanent blindness by destruction of the optic nerve, and 30 mL is potentially fatal, although the median lethal dose is typically 100 mL (3.4 fl oz) (i.e. 1–2 mL/kg body weight of pure methanol). Reference dose for methanol is 0.5 mg/kg/day. Toxic effects take hours to start, and effective antidotes can often prevent permanent damage. Because of its similarities in both appearance and odor to ethanol (the alcohol in beverages), it is difficult to differentiate between the two.
Historical uses
Before the development of modern medicines, alcohol was used for a variety of medical purposes. It has been known to be used as a truth drug (as hinted at by the maxim "in vino veritas"), as medicine for depression and as an anesthetic.
Alcohol laws regulate the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Such laws often seek to reduce the availability of these beverages for the purpose of reducing the health and social effects of their consumption.
In particular, such laws specify the legal drinking age which usually varies between 16 and 25 years, sometimes depending on the type of drink. Some countries do not have a legal drinking or purchasing age, but most set the age at 18 years. This can also take the form of distribution only in licensed stores or in monopoly stores. Often, this is combined with some form of taxation. In some jurisdictionsalcoholic beverages have been totally prohibited for reasons of religion (e.g., Islamic countries with certain interpretations of sharia law) or perceived public morals and health (e.g., Prohibition in the United States from 1920 to 1933).
D. W. Yandell; et al. (1888). "Amylene hydrate, a new hypnotic". The American Practitioner and News. 5. Lousville KY: John P. Morton & Co: 88–89. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
Chastain G (2006). "Alcohol, neurotransmitter systems, and behavior". The Journal of general psychology. 133 (4): 329–35. doi:10.3200/GENP.133.4.329-335. PMID17128954.
Roberts, C.; Robinson, S.P. (2007). "Alcohol concentration and carbonation of drinks: The effect on blood alcohol levels". Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 14 (7): 398–405. doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2006.12.010. PMID17720590.
G. Harding "A Wine Miscellany" pg 136–137, Clarkson Potter Publishing, New York 2005 ISBN 0-307-34635-8
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"Methanol Poisoning". Cambridge University School of Clinical Medicine. Archived from the original on 2006-01-07. Retrieved 2007-09-04.
Barceloux DG, Bond GR, Krenzelok EP, Cooper H, Vale JA (2002). "American Academy of Clinical Toxicology practice guidelines on the treatment of methanol poisoning". J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 40 (4): 415–46. doi:10.1081/CLT-120006745. PMID12216995.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
al.], edited by Christopher P. Holstege ... [et. Criminal poisoning: clinical and forensic perspectives. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. p. 232. ISBN0763744638. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
Date Rape. Survive.org.uk (2000-03-20). Retrieved on June 1, 2011.
