About Alcohol Information

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Due to the fact that people have known about the beneficial as well as the hazardous outcomes of drinking alcohol for hundreds if not thousands of years, how can it be that millions of individuals worldwide suffer from so many drinking problems? 

Stated more precisely, in our more "aware" and "enlightened" world, why do so many people experience the unhealthy, damaging, and in all too many cases, the deadly consequences alcohol abuse, binge drinking, and alcoholism?  With all that has been discovered about the debilitating and unhealthy consequences of abusive and irresponsible drinking, why do so many people in the industrialized nations engage in excessive and abusive drinking?  Could it be that people throughout the world need to know more about alcohol information?

What is Ethyl Alcohol?

The alcohol that is consumed at parties or bars or is called ethyl alcohol or ethanol. 

Ethyl alcohol is made by fermentation, a process in which yeast fungus feeds on starches and/or sugars in various grains (such as barley, rice, or hops) or fruits (such as apricots and grapes) and releases alcohol along with carbon dioxide (CO2).

Ethyl alcohol is depressant drug and not a stimulant as perceived by many people.  The amount of alcohol in drinks differs greatly depending on the type of drink that is ingested.  For instance, whereas wine and beer usually have an alcohol content somewhere between 5% and 15%, hard liquor, conversely, frequently has an alcohol content of 40% and can go as high as 90% or 95%.

From the least expensive beer to the most expensive after dinner wine or liqueur, all alcoholic beverages are made from the same fermentation process.  The different colors, tastes, flavors, and strengths, nonetheless, come from the variety of fruits and vegetables that are utilized as well as from the diluting substances, by-products, and additives used in the fermentation process.

When a person drinks an alcoholic beverage, approximately 80 percent of the alcohol is absorbed in the small intestines as compared to the 20 percent that is absorbed in the stomach.  The amount of alcohol, whether the stomach is empty or full, and the type of drink determine the speed at which the alcohol is absorbed.

After the alcohol is absorbed into the tissues, it affects a person's body and his or her mind.  In addition, it commonly takes roughly 20 minutes after having an alcoholic drink for an individual's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to rise.  After the alcohol is fully absorbed by the stomach and by the small intestines, it leaves the body in three ways: via the kidneys, the liver, and via the lungs.

Alcohol Use From an Historical Perspective

While it is not known precisely when alcohol was first ingested, the discovery of late Stone Age beer jugs, nevertheless, confirm that deliberately fermented alcoholic drinks existed at least as early as 10,000 B.C.  This means that mankind has known about alcohol and some of its positive and negative effects for the better part of 10,000 years!

The Abuse of Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse Effects

While alcohol has been employed in a variety of ways that have been beneficial, some of the social and personal problems and negative alcohol abuse effects associated with excessive drinking were recognized thousands of years ago.  For instance, Plato and Aristotle, two of the more famous early Greek philosophers who existed three or four hundred years before Christ, were quite vocal in their criticism of public drunkenness. 

In China, moreover, a manuscript from around 650 B.C. was recently found that stated how hard it was for individuals during that time to do without beer and also included words of warning about the "abuse" of beer.  Clearly, then, negative alcohol abuse effects were recognized more than 2,000 years ago!

Fast forwarding to France, in 1667 a medical thesis was written that described some of the beneficial aspects of wine as well as a number of its damaging effects.  For instance, references were made to the following health hazards of drinking wine:

• ulcerated eyes
• trembling hands
• erratic gait
• sleep disruption
• lethargy
• memory loss
• gawking expression
• erratic gait

Even though this scholarly work contained many clinical observations that were validly associated with excessive and abusive drinking, regrettably, this important information about the negative and hazardous consequences of heavy drinking and the evidence that pointed to negative alcohol abuse effects did not become widespread.

Moving on to the United States, the start of prohibition took place in 1920.  In fact, it was during this time when the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified and seen as the vehicle that would put an end to the "evils associated with drinking."

Linking Medical Problems to Alcoholism

Focusing on the consequences of excessive drinking from a medical orientation received a significant shot in the arm from a doctor named E.M. Jellinek.  It was Dr. Jellinek who, in 1937, created the first classification system that focused explicitly on the medical and health problems that were recognizable in long-term alcoholics.

Dr. Jellinek's research on alcoholism dovetailed nicely into the alcohol dependency studies that were being conducted by the World Health Organization.  When Dr. Jellinek and the World Health Organization established a working relationship in 1952, the latter adopted Dr. Jellinek's definition for the term "alcoholic" in their own documents:  "Alcoholics are those excessive drinkers whose dependence on alcohol has attained such a degree that it shows notable disturbance or an interference with their bodily and mental health, their personal relationships and smooth economic functioning or who show prodromal signs of such a development. They therefore need treatment."

As a consequence of the pioneering efforts of Dr. Jellinek and the later work of the World Health Organization, it can be seen that concepts such as "alcohol treatment" and "alcohol rehabilitation" originated and were discussed in the alcoholism literature at least 70 years ago!  In fact, a lot of Dr. Jellinek's work and the efforts of others have been instrumental in the creation of current policies, procedures, programs, and laws concerning chronic drug and alcohol abuse.  It is also obvious that Dr. Jellinek's work has influenced some fairly recent alcoholism terms and concepts such as "blood alcohol content," "blood alcohol level," and alcohol testing in American workplaces and by legal entities.  In a word, it is clear that Dr. Jellinek added some significant facts and insights about alcohol information.

The Need For Alcohol Education

There is historical evidence that points to negative alcohol abuse effects, public drunkenness, and the damaging effects of excessive and abusive drinking.  More recently, Dr. Jellinek discussed and analyzed alcoholism, alcoholic behavior, and the need for professional alcoholism treatment. 

Due to the fact that millions of people in the industrialized nations suffer from alcohol abuse and alcoholism, it is clear that there remains a critical need for more relevant and understandable alcohol education in modern society.  Indeed, all adolescents and adults in the developed countries apparently need upgraded and enhanced alcohol education so they can avoid the damaging consequences of excessive, irresponsible, and abusive drinking.

Alcoholism Videos

We have included some alcoholism videos so that you can see and hear directly from various people about their struggles with this disease.  If you, a family member, or one of your friends has a "drinking problem," seeing what others have gone through and how they attained successful recovery is much more "real" than any information you can read about.  Furthermore, watching these videos may help you understand what others with a drinking problem are experiencing.  So make sure you look at these excellent videos if you want to learn more about alcohol information.

About Alcohol Information:  Conclusion

History has shown that alcohol has been used in a number of beneficial ways.  History has also demonstrated hundreds and thousands of years ago that excessive and abusive drinking result in negative alcohol abuse effects and serious social and personal problems. 

In short, in spite of the fact that the unhealthy, damaging, and at times, the negative alcohol abuse effects and the fatal effects of excessive alcohol have been known for centuries, alcoholism and alcohol abuse continue to devastate human lives in our "enlightened" and "aware" society.  Obviously, more relevant and "enhanced" alcohol education is needed by youth and adults in the industrialized countries of the world so that they can learn how to avoid the destructive outcomes that are associated with alcohol abuse and alcoholism.  In a word, it seems that the people throughout the world need to learn more about alcohol information.

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