Alcohol loosens the tongue and adds a cheery fog, but a little too much makes drinkers a danger to themselves and others.

A group of organic compounds that includes not just the drinking variety, but organic solvents and disinfectants. However, here, we focus on alcohol as a beverage. As a drink, the compound that is used is ethyl alcohol or ethanol.

Fermentation

Alcohol is made from fermentation of glucose in the presence of yeast and water. The strength of the alcohol produced depends on the source of the glucose which can be from grains, malt or fruit.

There are basically three forms of alcoholic drinks, each differing from each other based on the percentage of ethyl alcohol present in the drink, namely Beer, Wine and Hard Liquor.

Beer

Beer contains 3 - 6 percent of ethyl alcohol. It is produced by fermentation of grains such as rice. Other source of carbohydrates like potatoes can also be used.

Wine

Wine contains 8 percent to 14 percent of ethyl alcohol. It is produced from fermentation of fruits such as grapes, berries and peaches. Most manufacturers use grapes as the source of glucose because of it high glucose content.

The strength of 14 percent is about the maximum that can be produced because the natural fermentation process will stop once the ethyl alcohol reaches this level.

Hard liquor

Both beer and wine are also known as soft liquor because of their relatively low ethyl alcohol content, compared to hard liquor. Hard liquor such as brandy and whisky are also known as spirits. They contain 37 percent to 40 percent ethyl alcohol. They are produced from the process of distillation that concentrates the level of ethyl alcohol.

Destroys the liver

The liver metabolizes 95 percent of alcohol. In other words, we are taxing our liver. Five percent of the alcohol is excreted unchanged through the kidneys and lungs. The unchanged alcohol present in the expired air provides the basis for the breathalyzer test that the police use for detecting drink driving.

Eat grapes

With the exception of red wine, there is little clinical evidence of any health benefit in consuming alcohol. Alcohol helps to lower inhibition, which means that it serves as a social ice-breaker, making people more relaxed when socializing.

Grape wine contains a substance called resveratrol that has been found to have cardio-protective as well as chemo-protective properties. This substance is produced by the grape skins in response to fungal and yeast infections during the fermentation process.

It also contains anti-oxidants that may be beneficial for the blood vessels.

Drink to dysfunctional

The many potential dangers of excessive consumption of alcohol include:

Physical Disabilities

The most common are gastritis, peptic ulcer, liver diseases and peripheral neuropathy. Excessive drinking also puts one more at risk of developing cancers such as mouth, throat, breast, esophageal, liver, colon and rectal cancers.

Due to the inhibition of the brain, it causes poor coordination and lack of concentration which can lead to accidents when driving or injuries when operating machines.

Psychiatric Disabilities

These include insomnia, depression, anxiety and amnesia. Visual hallucinations and frightening illusions are also common.

Some may even harbors a delusion such as accusing the family of conspiring to harm or poison them. Another serious complication is that of morbid jealousy. The alcoholic husband might accuse his wife of infidelity, leading to violence.

Social Disabilities

Children are at high risk of developing emotional problems or becoming victims of birth defects from maternal alcohol use. Such children may lack emotional and psychological support and tend to avoid peer group activities out of fear and shame. Some become victims of physical abuse leading to emotional and conduct problems.

Drink driving also causes accidents that lead to loss of lives and physical disabilities.

Treat alcoholism

To lower the number of alcoholics, preventive measures are important. These include legal interventions such as not selling alcoholic drinks to people below the age of 18 to prevent early exposure to alcohol. The vendors who infringe the law must be seriously dealt with.

The other preventive measure is to educate the public on the dangers of alcohol so that they moderate their drinking and stay within the recommended daily consumption.

Treatments are available for alcoholics. It is important that family members and doctors are vigilant to identify and coax potential alcoholics into going for treatment.

Men - 2 units per day

Women - 1 unit per day

As a guide, 1 unit is equivalent to 1 can of beer (300ml) or 1 glass of wine '• (120ml) or a single whisky (30ml).