Alcohol use

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Overview

Alcohol use

Definition:

Alcohol is produced by fermenting the starch or sugar in fruits and grains. Alcoholic drinks have different amounts of alcohol in them -- beer is about 5% alcohol, wine is usually 12 - 15% alcohol, and hard liquor is about 45% alcohol.

See also:

Alternative Names:
Beer consumption; Wine consumption; Hard liquor consumption
Information:

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People have been drinking alcoholic beverages since prehistoric times. The discovery of the distillation process during the 12th century made it possible to make drinks with higher alcohol content (hard liquor) than may be achieved by fermentation alone.

Alcohol and caffeine are the two most widely used drug substances in the world. And it is NOT ONLY an adult problem. Most American high school seniors have consumed an alcoholic drink within the past month, despite the fact that the legal age is between 18 to 21 years of age across the country.

About 20% of teens are "problem drinkers." This means that they get drunk, have accidents related to alcohol use, or get into trouble with the law, family members, friends, school, or dates due to alcohol.

Up to 7% of teens are considered alcoholic (dependent on alcohol). This means that they have withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop or reduce their drinking, and drink compulsively despite negative consequences.

A person's alcohol use is primarily influenced by attitudes developed during childhood and teen years. It is impacted by the parent's attitudes and behaviors toward drinking, peer influence, society, and family relationships.

There is likely a genetic (hereditary) predisposition to alcohol use-related disorders.

THE IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream quickly. The absorption rate depends on the amount and type of food in your stomach. For example, high carbohydrate and high fat foods lessen the absorption rates. A carbonated alcoholic drink, like champagne, will be absorbed faster.

The effects of alcohol may appear within 10 minutes and peak at approximately 40 to 60 minutes. Alcohol remains in the bloodstream until it is broken down by the liver. If a person consumes alcohol at a faster rate than it can be broken down by the liver, the blood alcohol concentration level rises.

Each state has its own legal definition for alcohol intoxication, which is defined by blood alcohol concentration. The legal limit usually falls between 0.08 and 0.10 in most states. Different levels lead to different effects: