Alcohol Chapter 21

Alcohol as a Drug A drug is a chemical substance that is taken to cause changes in a person’s body or behavior Alcohol is a depressant Depressant: a drug that slows brain and body reactions Alcohol may cause confusion, decreased alertness, blurred vision, and drowsiness

Alcohol Production Alcohol in beverages such as beer, wine, and liquor is produced by the process of fermentation Fermentation: microorganisms called yeast feed on the sugars in foods such as: Malted grains Grapes Berries In the process, carbon dioxide and alcohol are produced

Determining Alcohol Content 12 oz. beer contains 4% alcohol, or 0.5 oz. 1.25 oz. shot of liquor contains 40% alcohol, or 0.5 0z. 5 oz. glass of wine contains 10% alcohol, or 0.5 oz. Multiply drink volume by percent alcohol

Alcohol and Caffeine Students who consumed these energy drink cocktails were 2x as likely to be involved in alcohol- related accidents and injuries than when drinking alcohol alone. Combination of alcohol & caffeine can be dangerous. May not feel impaired even when blood alcohol levels are very high.

Four Loko – 2010 Update August: 18-yr old in FL died after drinking Four Loko in combo with diet pills. Sept: 20-year-old in FL started playing with a gun; fatally shot himself after drinking several cans over a number of hours. Mapo College in Mahwah, NJ: 23 students came down with alcohol poisoning and were hospitalized. Nine female Central Washington students sent to hospital from house party. Reporters and police thought been given date rape drug. But it was the drink – BAC: .123 to .335 (anything over .3 can be lethal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I16s1E4OzM