1. Alcohol
Chapter 21

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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.

6. 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)