Alcohol has become the most abused drug today. The term alcohol was derived from the word ‘al-kohl’ which means ‘finely divided spirit’. There are many types of alcohol – methyl, ethyl, butyl, isopropyl etc., which have a number of chemical and industrial uses. Intoxicating ingredient of the alcoholic beverages is ethyl alcohol (C2H6O). Contrary to the popular belief, alcohol is a depressant rather than a stimulant.

Alcohol is obtained by the process of fermentation. Sugar containing juice of certain fruits and vegetables is converted into alcohol by action of several species of bacteria and yeast in the absence of oxygen. Although fermentation by yeast cells for the production of alcohol was known for a long time, but it was LOUIS PASTEUR who first elaborately studied and explained the process in detail and also utilized it for making different kinds of liqueurs Later BUCKNER in 1897 exposed that the change of sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide was due to the action of an enzyme complex-cymas, secreted by the microorganism and not due to their direct action on sugar. Higher alcohol containing beverages are made by the process of distillation. Distillation is a process of heating of liquid until it turns into vapor and then condensing it into liquid again. When wine or beer is heated at high temperature, the alcohol boils of as a vapor, water and most of other ingredients are left behind. The process is employed to make beverages that contain 40-60% alcohol, and are called distilled spirit. Congeners are used to add color and flavor during commercial preparation.

Alcohol, after reaching the stomach is absorbed into the blood stream directly, the remaining part moves down to the intestines & is absorbed once again into the blood stream. From the blood alcohol enters all the body tissues and starts affecting the heart rate, blood pressure, gastric secretion, urine output etc. After activity of cerebral cortex, the depressant effect of alcohol spreads to neurons in the cerebral cortex itself and to other cerebral and spinal neurons. Its major effect is overall depression. Movement becomes slower and less accurate, so that even simple activities such as walking or speaking are adversely affected. Mental processes are impaired as well. Studies show that the ability to learn is slowed down and the ability reason and make rational judgment is also affected.

The body gets rid of alcohol almost exclusively by oxidation and this process begins in the liver. It is oxidized at the rate4 of 8-15 ml per hour. Alcohol is first changed into acetaldehyde & then to acetate by the enzyme aldehydrogenase, ultimately alcohol is converted into carbon dioxide, water and energy. The energy yield of alcohol oxidation is about seven kilo calories per gm of alcohol. Popular belief is that exercise, fresh air, cold shower hot bath or black coffee will help in making a person sober. This is not true at all. The fact is that these methods have no effect on oxidation rate. Ethyl alcohol supplies empty calories without any nutritive value.

Alcohol adversely affects the liver cells, eventually brings about their death and replacement by collagen fibers. The liver enlarges, hardens and develops other changes characteristic of cirrhosis chances of an alcoholic, acquiring this condition are many times more than a teetotaler.