Alcoholic Beverages

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What Is An Alcoholic Beverage?

  • An alcoholic beverage is a beverage which contains Ethanol (alcohol) which is a colorless, volatile and flammable liquid which doubles as a psychoactive drug.
  • There are three types of alcoholic beverages. Each of which has characteristics exclusive to itself. These three types are Beers, Wines, and Spirits. Spirits being the most heavily alcoholic due to the process of distillation, which all spirits must endure.
  • Alcoholic beverages are bought and sold in almost all countries of the world, but there are many laws that are in place in said countries. Most of these laws involve a minimum drinking age. In the United States, the minimum drinking age is 21, but in most countries of the world, the minimum drinking age is 18 years.
  • Alcoholic beverages are psychoactive drugs, which depress the body. When large amounts of alcohol enters the blood stream of an individual, they become legally drunk, and the alcohol depresses the body in a manner that their attention is drastically reduced and reaction time is slowed down immensely. Alcohol is very addictive and overexposure of alcohol can lead to addiction, known as Alcoholism.
Spirits.png
These drinks are examples of spirits, the most highly alcoholic of the three types.


The Three Types of Alcoholic Beverages

  • Beer and wine generally tend to have a lower alcohol content because they are produced by the fermentation of sugar or starch. Spirits have a much higher alcoholic content because they are fermented and then distilled.

Beer

  • Beer is not only the oldest alcoholic beverage, but it is the most widely consumed.
  • Starches such as barley, wheat, and maize are brewed and then fermented to produce beer.
  • The Two Types of Beer
    • Lager
      • Lager is beer that is brewed and fermented in very cold temperatures.
    • Ale
      • Ale is beer that is brewed at warmer temperatures.
      • Ale is also classified into many varieties such as pale and brown ale.
  • Flavoring of Beer
    • Beer is flavored with a flower called Hops, which naturally preserves the beer and adds a slight bitter taste to it.
    • Occasionally, fruits and herbs may be used to flavor beer as well.
    • Beer's alcohol by volume (ABV) is usually anywhere between 4% and 6% but may be lower or slightly higher.

Wine

  • Types of Wine
    • Wine is produced mainly from grapes
    • Fruit Wine can be produced from a variety of different fruits, ranging from plums to cherries.
  • Fermentation of Wine
    • The process of fermentation for Wine is generally longer in duration than beer, and also requires a lengthy aging process.
    • This results in an ABV of 9% to 16%.
  • Sparkling Wine
    • Sparkling Wine is a type of wine which has high levels of carbon dioxide added to it to create a fizzy sensation when the beverage is drank.
  • Fortified Wine
    • This is a type of wine where a spirit has been added to the original wine formula. This spirit is usually Brandy, but it could be another spirit.

Spirits

  • Spirits are unsweetened alcoholic beverages which have been distilled.
  • Most spirits have an ABV of 20% or higher.
  • Creation of Spirits
    • Spirits are created when a base product which has been fermented goes through the process of distillation.
    • Distillation is the concentration of alcohol via the removal of congeners.
      • Congeners are products created during fermentation.


Health and the Effects of Alcohol Usage

  • Short Term Effects of Alcohol Usage
    • Intoxication
    • Dehydration
  • Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
    • Slurred Speech
    • Clumsiness
    • Delayed Reflexes and Reactions
  • Long Term Effects of Alcohol Usage
    • Alcoholism
      • Alcoholism is the general addiction to alcoholic beverages.
      • Alcoholism alters digestion and metabolism which can lead to severe malnutrition.
      • Some common symptoms of Alcoholism include muscle cramps, nausea, loss of appetite, nerve disorders, and depression.
      • Lack of Vitamin D as a result of Alcoholism may result in osteoporosis.
    • Heart Disease
      • A half or full glass of wine per day can lower the risk of coronary heart disease for older men and women, but getting drunk once per month or more can increase the risk of heart attack and heart disease.
    • Dementia
      • According to estimation, 10% to 24% of dementia cases are caused by overexposure to alcoholic beverages.
      • Dementia caused by alcohol consumption is generally the direct result of a severe lack of thiamine.
    • Cancer
      • There are seven cancers which have been proven to be a result of alcohol consumption.
        • Mouth Cancer, Pharyngeal Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, Breast Cancer, Bowel Cancer, and Liver Cancer,
          • Liver Cancer is usually caused by Cirrhosis of the Liver, which is when liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, reducing the function of the liver.
      • 3.6% of all cancer cases are the result of alcohol consumption.
        • This results in 3.5% of the world's deaths.
    • Diabetes
      • People with diabetes in their genetics should avoid sugary alcoholic beverages such as liquors, as these can increase the risk of diabetes.