Alcohol and Public Health (Part 1)
What is alcohol?
Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches.
How does alcohol affect a person?
Alcohol affects every organ in the body. It is a central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the blood stream. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver by enzymes. However, the liver can metabolize only a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the body. The intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body is directly related to the amount consumed.
Why do some people react differently to alcohol than others?
Individual reactions to alcohol vary, and are influenced by many factors. Some factors include
- age
- gender
- race or ethnicity
- physical condition (weight, fitness level, etc.)
- amount of food consumed before drinking
- how quickly the alcohol was consumed
- use of drugs or prescription medicines
- family history of alcohol problems
What is a standard drink in the United States?
A standard drink is equal to 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in
- 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content)
- 8 ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content)
- 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content)
- 1.5 ounces or a "shot" of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor, such as gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey
Is beer or wine safer to drink than liquor?
No. One 12 ounce beer has about the same amount of alcohol as one 5 ounce glass of wine, or a 1.5 ounce shot of liquor. It is the amount of alcohol consumed that affects a person most, not the type of alcoholic drink.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Reviewed 2018, March 29). In Alcohol and public health. Retrieved September 16, 2019, from https://www.cdc.gov/