All SSDP
SSDPedia
Alcohol
From SSDPedia
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used drugs by humans. It has a very long history of use and its intoxicating effects are well-studied and -documented.
Contents |
[edit] Classification
According to the United States government, Alcohol is classified as a "Depressant Intoxicant."
[edit] Legal Status
Alcohol is an unscheduled drug, but it's sales are regulated in the United States. It is available over the counter, though there are certain restrictions. Below are some of those restrictions:
- Only those over the age of 21 are legally allowed to purchase alcohol
- It is illegal to purchase alcohol for a minor (someone below the age of 21)
- It is legal to brew beer and ferment wine for personal consumption without a license
- In order to sell beer or wine, a license is required
- It is federally illegal to distill hard alcohol (even for personal consumption) without a license
- It is illegal in most states to drive (or operate vehicles) with a blood alcohol content of over a certain level (.08 in some states, .1 in others)
[edit] Chemistry
The following information is provided by (Erowid.com):
- Chemical Name: Ethanol
- Chemical Formula: C2H6O
- Molecular Weight: 46.07
- Melting Point: -114.1° C
- Boiling Point: 78.5° C
- Flash Point: 13° C
[edit] Effects
Below are some effects of alcohol consumption, but by drinking alcohol one will not be effected by all of the effects stated below. Alcohol can effect each person differently, and below are possible ways it can effect one's body:
- Relaxation
- Mood lift, happiness, giddiness
- Talkativeness
- Lowered inhibitions / reduced social anxiety
- Analgesia (kills pain)
- Slurred speech
- Flushed skin
- Drowsiness, sleepiness
- Nystagmus, difficulty focusing eyes
- Tolerance with repeated use within a few days
- Changed aesthetic appreciation: normally beautiful things can seem ugly, things normally seen as ugly judged beautiful.
- Mild visual distortions at high doses
- Decreased coordination
- Nausea, vomiting (vomiting while unconscious can cause death)
- Reduced impulse control
- Emotional volatility (anger, violence, sadness, etc)
- Frequent urination (more with beer or wine), diuretic effect
- Dizziness and confusion
- Blackouts and memory loss at high doses
- Coma and death at extreme doses
- Brain and liver damage (cirrhosis) with heavy use
- Lowered inhibitions and increased confusion can lead to unwanted and negative sexual encounters (date rape)
- Hangover, lasting 12-36 hours, from mild to severe after heavy use
- Fetus damage in pregnant women at high dose or frequency
[edit] Hangover
"The exact cause of hangovers are not completely understood, but they are a well known problem with ingesting alcohol. Bad alcohol hangovers are considered to be worse than the day-after effects of nearly any other psychoactive. Alcohol causes liver damage and bad hangovers may indicate alcohol toxicity and should be avoided. The primary causes of hangover are believed to be dehydration and related electrolyte imbalance, blood-sugar regulation disturbance, acute withdrawal, toxicity from alcohol metabolites, interaction with congeners (non-alcohol components of drinks), reduced sleep quality, and personal biological profile." (Erowid)
[edit] Classes
There are many different brands of alcohol, but many categorize alcohol into 3 general classes.
- Spirits
- Beer
- Wine
Others seperate alcohol differently, as seen below, with a description explaining why they are seperated from one another, along with information about each type:
[edit] Wines
Wines are made from a variety of fruits, such as grapes, peaches, plums or apricots. The most common wines are produced from grapes. The soil in which the grapes are grown and the weather conditions in the growing season determine the quality and taste of the grapes which in turn affects the taste and quality of wines. When ripe, the grapes are crushed and fermented in large vats to produce wine.
Fun Fact: Winemakers, or those who make wine, have a more technical term for their job description; Enologists. Enology, also known as viniculture, is the science of making wine.
[edit] Beer
Beer is also made by the process of fermentation. A liquid mix, called wort, is prepared by combining yeast and malted cereal, such as corn, rye, wheat or barely. Fermentation of this liquid mix produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. The process of fermentation is stopped before it is completed to limit the alcohol content. The alcohol so produced is called beer. It contains 4 to 8 per cent of alcohol.
Major Beer Brewers:
- Anheuser-Busch (most known for products such as Budweiser and Michelob)
- Grupo Modelo (most well known for Corona)
- Molson Breweries
- Miller
- Labatt
- Femsa
[edit] Whisk(e)y
Whisk(e)y is made by distilling the fermented juice of cereal grains such as corn, rye or barley. Scotch whisky was originally made in Scotland. The word "Scotch" has become almost synonymous with whisky of good quality.
For the sake of clarification, the Scotts and Canadians spell whisky without the "e", while the Irish and Americans spell it with an "e" as in whiskey.
[edit] Rum
Rum is a distilled beverage made from fermented molasses or sugarcane juice and is aged for at least three years. Caramel is sometimes used for colouring.
There are numerous classifications within rum itself; shown below:
- White Rums
- Golden Rums
- Dark Rums
- Spiced Rums
There are numerous places where rum is produced, many of which are located in the Caribbean (almost every island in the Caribbean has their own distinct style of rum), though other locations range from the United States to the Philippines and from Australia to Venezuela.
[edit] Brandy
Brandy is distilled from fermented fruit juices. Brandy is usually aged in oak casks. The colour of brandy comes either from the casks or from caramel that is added.
[edit] Gin
Gin is a distilled beverage. It is a combination of alcohol, water and various flavours. Gin does not improve with age, so it is not stored in wooden casks.
[edit] Liqueurs
Liqueurs are made by adding sugar and flavouring such as fruits, herbs or flowers to brandy or to a combination of alcohol and water. Most liqueurs contain 20-65 per cent alcohol. They are usually consumed in small quantities after dinner.
[edit] Outlooks on Alcohol Use/Abuse
- Overindulgence - this is the abuse of alcohol, which can often lead to drunkenness
- Moderationism - the moderate use of alcohol
- Abstentionism - complete abstinence of alcohol use, on a personal level, except for religious purposes
- Prohibitionism - attempting to make laws against the consumption of alcohol as a whole