Alcohol is created by fermenting carbohydrates, with yeast or through distillation. Alcohol is an antidepressant and there are many types of this chemical, but the type of alcohol that is commonly consumed as a beverage is called ethanol.
It is possible to consume small quantities of alcohol and become seriously impaired, Moderate use of alcohol is socially tolerated in most cases and is defined as consuming no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and elderly persons. While drinks come in many different sizes, a "drink," as defined for the moderate consumption of alcohol is a 5 oz. glass of wine, 12 oz. beer, or 1.5 oz. of 80 proof distilled liquor.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has said that moderate alcohol consumption may be beneficial for some users. They site studies that have shown that people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol are less likely to die from a particular form of heart disease than people who drink too much or no alcohol at all. Scientists believe that this is caused by the thinning effect of alcohol on the blood. Thinner blood is less likely to cause blood clots in the arteries of the heart.
While there are some benefits to moderate alcohol consumption, there are certain groups of people who should abstain from any alcohol consumption. These groups include:
People who plan to drive or operate a motor vehicle
Women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant
People who are required to consume specific over-the-counter medications
Persons under the age of 21
Recovering alcoholics
People who have medical conditions that could be made worse by consuming alcohol
|
