Ethyl alcohol has industrial properties. The ethyl alcohol which is used in alcoholic beverages is heavily taxed. Ethyl alcohol is one of a family of alcohols, which include methyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, and butyl alcohol. They're odourless, colourless and tasteless and also poisonous, with the exception of ethyl alcohol, which is tolerable in small amounts.

Ethanol in the form of alcoholic beverages has been consumed by humans since pre-historic times, for a variety of hygienic, dietary, medicinal, religious, and recreational reasons. The consumption of large doses results in drunkenness or intoxication (which may lead to a hangover as the effect wears off) and, depending on the dose and regularity of use, can cause acute respiratory failure or death and with chronic use has medical repercussions.

Ethanol acts at specific sites on a specific subset of GABA and glutamate receptors (protein molecules upon which the neurotransmitters act). By influencing the action of these receptors, ethanol "slows down" the functioning of the nervous system.

Alcohol is a very powerful, addictive drug that some adults enjoy in low doses, but that is damaging or even lethal in high doses. Many adults drink moderately and are safe. Alcohol is often called a "gateway drug.".When young people like the feeling they get from alcohol, they may be interested in trying other drugs later.

This can lead to multiple drug use, which is very dangerous. Alcohol is absorbed from all parts of the gastrointestinal tract largely by simple diffusion into the blood. However the small intestine is by far the most efficient region of the gastrointestinal tract for alcohol absorption because of its very large surface area.

Alcohol is believed to have been involved at least 50% of the time. New findings show a clear relationship between days of alcohol consumption and risk of experiencing victimization both sexual and nonsexual. Alcohol is associated with over 50 percent of adult drownings.

Up to 40 percent of industrial fatalities and 47 percent of industrial injuries are linked to alcohol consumption and alcoholism. Alcohol is postulated to act by facilitating GABA-A function, by interacting with the GABA-A receptor, but at a site different from the GABA binding site or the benzodiazepine binding site. This results in the activation of the DA neurons in the mesolimbic system.

Alcohol is the only drug that contains calories, yet these are wasted calories. Beers and wines are "clarified.".This process removes the spent yeast and mash (grain or fruit mash), which also removes the vitamins and nutritional value of the beverage. Alcohol is most rapidly absorbed when the concentration of the drink is between 10% and 30%.

When the alcohol content is less than 10%, the concentration gradient in the gastrointestinal tract is low and absorption is slowed. Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented . Fermentation is a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol.