Alcohol forms the main active ingredient in many of the most loved drinks. There are many types of alcohol, including beer, wine, spirits and liquors. All of them can cause alcohol intoxication or “drowsiness”. Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the chemical name for the alcohol we know and love. However, ethanol is just one type of alcohol found in nature. Please find out more about the four main types of alcohol, their uses and their impacts.

1) Isopropyl alcohol

Propylene is used to make isopropyl alcohol. It has strong disinfecting properties. Isopropanol can be diluted or reduced to rubbing alcohol. It is an ingredient that is used in many cleaning products. It can be sterilized especially well. It is used most often for household cleaning purposes, such as cleaning stainless steel, disinfecting electronics, and refreshing sponges. Isopropyl alcohol is also a natural antibacterial agent used as an antiseptic in medicine. It can also be inhaled to provide relief from postoperative nausea. If swallowed in large amounts, isopropanol can have severe toxic effects. Flushing, vomiting and low blood sugar are all signs of isopropyl-alcohol poisoning.

2) Methyl alcohol

Most commonly, methyl alcohol, wood alcohol or methanol is used in manufacturing processes. It is an industrial solvent that can make paint removers, antifreeze and printing ink. Methanol can also be used as a base reactant to make acetone, methane, and formaldehyde compounds. These byproducts can be used to make everything from explosives to plastics. Methanol and its volatile vapors can be highly explosive and require special handling when transporting and using them. Methanol is extremely toxic and has a similar odor to ethanol. As little as 10mL can cause permanent blindness. 30mL can also cause coma and death. Small amounts of methanol are sometimes added to ethanol to keep people away from it for industrial purposes. This makes the alcohol poisonous (or contaminated).

• Ethyl alcohol

Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the chemical name for the essence in all alcoholic beverages. It is the safest type of alcohol. It can be used to fuel additives or industrial solvents, but it is most often used recreationally due to its unique effect on mood and behavior. It reduces GABA activity, a neurotransmitter in the brain that depresses the central nervous system. Alcoholism can cause euphoria and happiness. It also causes increased sociability and lower anxiety. It can also cause impairment in memory, cognition, motor, and sensory functions.

Through fermentation, yeast or bacteria convert sugars to ethanol chemically. The sugars used to make ethanol can be made from barley, wheat or grapes. You can consume fermented beverages straight away or further distill them to achieve a higher percentage of alcohol. Based on the manufacturing process, all alcoholic beverages can be classified into two main categories:

3) Undistilled ethanol

Undistilled alcohol or fermented alcohol is only produced by fermentation and is not refined or clarified. There are many undistilled alcohol drinks, but beer, wine and cider are the most common. The main differences are in the type of yeast used to ferment them and the fruit or crop used as the base. Variations in soil composition and weather can cause slight changes in the drink’s flavor. Except for external modifications, fermented beverages should not contain more than 15% alcohol per volume.

4) Distilled ethanol

Distilled alcohol can be defined as fermented ethanol after being subject to a distillation process. This process increases the alcohol volume (ABV). Distillation is a process that separates alcohol from fermented beverages to make it more concentrated. The alcohol content of distilled drinks is usually between 20% and 70% ABV. It can distill spirits up to 95%, but most drinks are around 40% ABV. Vodka and brandy are among the most well-known distilled beverages. To make distilled drinks more digestible, you might need to mix them with water, soft drinks or fruit juices due to their high alcohol content.

Conclusion

There are a variety of adverse effects that alcohol can have on your short-term and long-term health. Consuming alcohol in large amounts of high frequency can lead to serious health consequences. Regular alcohol consumption can lead to addiction due to its psychoactive effects. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you or someone you care about is suffering from an alcohol abuse disorder.