Catalyzes the NAD-dependent oxidation of all-trans-retinol, alcohol, and omega-hydroxy fatty acids and their derivatives (PubMed:15369820, PubMed:16787387, PubMed:9600267). Oxidizes preferentially all trans-retinol, all-trans-4-hydroxyretinol, 9-cis-retinol, 2-hexenol, and long chain omega-hydroxy fatty acids such as juniperic acid (PubMed:15369820, PubMed:16787387, PubMed:9600267). In vitro can also catalyzes the NADH-dependent reduction of all-trans-retinal and aldehydes and their derivatives (PubMed:15369820, PubMed:16787387, PubMed:9600267). Reduces preferentially all trans-retinal, all-trans-4-oxoretinal and hexanal (PubMed:15369820, PubMed:16787387). Catalyzes in the oxidative direction with higher efficiency (PubMed:16787387, PubMed:15369820). Therefore may participate in retinoid metabolism, fatty acid omega-oxidation, and elimination of cytotoxic aldehydes produced by lipid peroxidation (PubMed:9600267, PubMed:15369820, PubMed:16787387). a primary alcohol + NAD(+) = an aldehyde + H(+) + NADH 10-hydroxydecanoate + NAD(+) = 10-oxodecanoate + H(+) + NADH all-trans-retinol + NAD(+) = all-trans-retinal + H(+) + NADH 9-cis-retinol + NAD(+) = 9-cis-retinal + H(+) + NADH all-trans-3,4-didehydroretinol + NAD(+) = all-trans-3,4-didehydroretinal + H(+) + NADH all-trans-4-hydroxyretinol + NAD(+) = all-trans-4-hydroxyretinal + H(+) + NADH all-trans-4-oxoretinol + NAD(+) = all-trans-4-oxoretinal + H(+) + NADH 12-hydroxydodecanoate + NAD(+) = 12-oxododecanoate + H(+) + NADH 16-hydroxyhexadecanoate + NAD(+) = 16-oxohexadecanoate + H(+) + NADH hexan-1-ol + NAD(+) = H(+) + hexanal + NADH (E)-hex-2-en-1-ol + NAD(+) = (E)-hex-2-enal + H(+) + NADH (E)-4-hydroxynon-2-en-1-ol + NAD(+) = (E)-4-hydroxynon-2-enal + H(+) + NADH Binds 2 Zn(2+) ions per subunit. Retinol oxidation is inhibited by the detergent Tween 80 (PubMed:15369820). Ethanol inhibits both all-trans-retinol and 9-cis-retinol oxidation (PubMed:9600267). 13-cis-retinol is an effective competitive inhibitor of the 9-cis-retinol oxidation (PubMed:9600267). All-trans-retinoic acid is a powerful inhibitor of all-trans-retinol oxidation (PubMed:9600267). 13-cis-retinoic acid is a powerful inhibitor of all-trans-retinol oxidation (PubMed:9600267). Cimetidine competitively inhibited ethanol oxidation (PubMed:9600267). Homodimer. Preferentially expressed in stomach. There are 7 different ADH's isozymes in human: three belongs to class-I: alpha, beta, and gamma, one to class-II: pi, one to class-III: chi, one to class-IV: ADH7 and one to class-V: ADH6. Belongs to the zinc-containing alcohol dehydrogenase family. Class-IV subfamily. It is uncertain whether Met-1 or Met-13 is the initiator.