Alcohol and Responsible Drinking


  • There are various kinds of alcohol, but only ethyl can be taken with safety.
  • Ethyl alcohol derived from the fermentation of grapes or other sugar containing liquid. The enzymes created by yeast cells convert the sugar in the grape juice into alcohol as well as into carbon dioxide.
  • Ethanol is the only alcohol that is safe to drink till today. To the layman, the term: ‘alcohol’ is widely used rather than the chemist term ethyl alcohol or ethanol.
  • Pure alcohol is colourless and will ignite at -12o C .
  • Ethyl alcohol or Ethanol is potable, clear, colourless with an ethereal odour and a warm, burning, slightly sweet taste. It is a volatile, flammable substance that burns with a blue flame and is also hygroscopic (water-absorbing).
  • It is completely mixable with water in any proportion.
  • It vaporizes at 78.3o C and freezes at -113o C.
  • Alcohol should be consumed in moderate quantity. It has a pleasing and soporific (sleep-inducing) effect. It is this ability to allow its consumer to loosen their inhibitions and relax that made alcohol prized and sought after.
  • Continuous and repeated excessive consumption can lead to alcohol dependency.

Dispelling Myths About Alcohol

  • Alcohol is not a stimulant.
  • Alcohol does not have nutritional value.
  • It is not possible to prevent symptoms of a hangover e.g. by eating fats or taking massive doses of vitamins before heavy drinking.
  • Drinking large quantities of black coffee or taking a cold shower cannot counteract the effects of alcohol.
  • Straight whiskey will not affect a person more rapidly than a whiskey and soda.
  • It’s not a sign of maturity to be able to hold your liquor.

How Alcohol Affects A Person

  • Alcohol takes as little time as three minutes after it has been swallowed to reach the brain. The exact amount of time varies among individuals.
  • When alcoholic beverage is consumed, a small portion of the pure alcohol is absorbed directly and immediately into the bloodstream through the stomach walls.
  • The rest of the alcohol is processed at a slightly slower rate through the small intestine and into the bloodstream.
  • The alcohol-laden blood is pumped through the body by the heart where it eventually transports the alcohol to the liver which oxidises and breaks down the alcohol. 90 to 98 % of all alcohol ingested will be oxidised by the liver into water and carbon dioxide. The rest of the 2 to 8% of alcohol is excreted through our breath, urine, saliva, tears.
  • The liver of a male is capable of breaking down the equivalent of one standard drink per hour or 80 grams of pure alcohol in 24 hours while the liver of a female is only half as efficient.
  • As a guide to the amount of drinks one consumes within safety limit, listed are the alcohol strength of principal drinks:
    Beer 4% to 11% alcohol by volume
    Wine (Red, White, Rose, Sparkling) 7% to 14% alcohol by volume
    Fortified Wines 18% to 21% alcohol by volume
    Vermouth 16% to 20% alcohol by volume
    Brandy 40% alcohol by volume
    Whisky, Gin, Rum, Vodka 40% to 45% alcohol by volume
    Liqueurs (varies from very low to very high) 11% to 45% alcohol by volume

Women Get Drunk Faster Than Men

  • Recent research suggest that drink for drink, women get drunk faster than men.
  • It is believed that this is because women have fewer enzymes in the liver and gut wall that break down alcohol before it enters the bloodstream.
  • Women’s safe limit is about half that of men.
  • It was also found that women alcoholics do more harm to their bodies than men. Liver disease, brain damage and mental defects like memory loss and reduced ability to solve problems start earlier for them.
  • As if such news are not depressing enough, it is also found that women are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and other additive disorders.

Legal Limits

  • We can tell how much the brain is affected by measuring the amount of alcohol in the blood. This is known as B.A.C. (blood-alcohol-concentration).
  • Most countries have a legal limit for blood alcohol concentration. If one is found driving with a higher amount of BAC in our blood than the legal limit one may face legal action. The limits and the application of the law differ in different countries.
  • As a precaution, one shouldnot drive if one consume alcoholic beverage.
  • A drink is taken as a 330 ml can of beer, a 120 ml glass of wine or a 30 ml measure of spirit (brandy, whisky, vodka, rum or gin).


  • The hangover is a symptom that results from having consumed too much alcoholic beverages.
  • Hangover causes the body to suffer the following conditions:
    • dehydration
    • low blood sugar
    • irritation of the stomach lining
  • The dehydration is caused by the diuretic action of the alcohol. At the same time, the body’s natural anti-diuretic hormones are suppressed. This causes the body to lose more water that it otherwise would.
  • Besides making the person feel thirsty, dehydration also causes headaches. Combined with the effects of the toxin-like congeners, the effects are very acute and intense headaches occur. The person also becomes very sensitive to light and prefers the dark.
  • Alcohol causes the body to produce insulin which burns up the blood sugar. This results in low blood sugar which shows up as drowsiness, faintness and hunger which manifest itself as shivering.

‘Cure’ for Hangovers

  • However, we can ease the uncomfortable and painful symptoms associated with a hangover. The following actions can ease and give comfort:
    • drink lots of water
    • consume glucose dissolved in the water
    • take small doses of vitamin B and C
    • use mild analgesics like paracetamol
  • Rehydrating the body cells and organs allows the natural healing process to occur while glucose helps the body absorb the water faster as well as replenish the blood sugar.
  • Vitamin B and C generally helps the liver and the body’s nervous system cope with the symptoms while pain killers (analgesics) such as paracetamol (sold commercially as Panadol) help deal with the general pain and headaches.
  • One of the best things to do if a person has had too much alcohol is to drinks lots of water with some glucose and vitamin B and C before retiring to bed to rest. Orange juice is a handy and easily available mixture of water, glucose and vitamin C.
  • Taking paracetamol is not recommended unless necessary or until the symptoms manifest themselves and aspirins are not recommended as they are acidic in nature and may only irritate the upset stomach further.

Serving Alcohol With Care

  • You may be aware that in most countries it is illegal to serve alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person. Know your country’s legal limits for B.A.C.
  • Definition of an intoxicated person is in terms of their blood-alcohol-concentration.
  • Some experienced bartenders have developed a sense of awareness of when a guest is becoming intoxicated by judging the changes in their behaviours.
  • As alcohol causes dehydration. An intoxicated person is very likely to demand for more drinks. You should cut off serving alcoholic beverages but instead should offer non-alcoholic beverages.