Question

Explain the differences between beer, ale, wine (red and white), brandy, and scotch? What effect does alcohol have on the body and why was alcohol more important, health-wise in the early history of man than water? Why is alcohol a problem in our society today?

Answer 1

Ans.

Differences between alcoholic beverages;

Beer - Malt is the main ingrediant of beer and it is made by the processes like fermentation of malt containg 4-6% of alcohol by volume.

Ale - It is a type of beer brewed by the method of warm fermentation and sweeter in the taste then beer.

Red wine - It is a type of wine in which involves pressing of grapes after the fermentation process is over. alcohol content 12-15% by volume.

White wine - This wine is prepared by pressing grapes before the fermentation is completed and contains alcohol content 5-14% by volume.

Brandy - This alcoholic beverage is prepared by distilling the wine and contains 30-65% alcohol by volume.

Scotch - It is a whiskey type which is prepared by making and maturing of the raw materials in casks of oak for about 3 years. It's alcohol content is 60-75% by volume.

Effects of alcohol on the body -

• The moment the first sip of alcohol is sipped in, effect of alcohol can be observe clearly.
• Effect of alcohol on the body can be categorized into short term and long term effects.

A). Short term effects of alcohol -

1. Problems in concentrating
2. Disturbance in co-ordination
3. Loss of some main judgement ability
4. Mood swings
5. Unregulated B.P.
6. Nausea, headache and vomitting
7. Loss of conciousness

B). Long term effects -

1. Loss of gray and white matter in the brain
2. Loss of memory
3. Learning problems
4. Cardiomyopathy
5. Liver fibrosis and fatty liver (i.e. steatosis)
6. Stroke and irregular heart beat
7. Erectile dysfunction and impotency

Health benefits of alcohol in early history -

• Use of alcohol as a health drink goes long back in history as an early form of medication and even some people recommended it as a safe alternative to drinking water.
• Unavailability of safe drinking water was one of the causes for the promotion of alcohol over water in early history.
• Until the late 19th and early 20th, alcohol was used heavily for medicinal purpose.
• Hippocrates, a Greek physician, thought wines to be a part of a healthy diet plan and recommended it's use as a disinfectant to clean wounds.
• Alcohol was also used as medium for mixing other drugs for patients conmsumption.
• Alcoholic drinks such as wine was used for treatment of diseases like diarrhea, lethargy and pain during child birth.
• Alcoholic drinks were considered to be beneficial for stomach and digestion.

Alcohol a problem in our society today -

• Excessive use of alcohol (alcoholism) has created many problems in our society nowadays.
• Scope of alcohol abuse problem has wider area now then it does 2 centuries ago.
• Nowadays, alcoholism is one of the main reason standing for most disorders and deaths worldwide.
• Impact of alcoholism includes ;

1). Financial costs -

• Excssive use of alcohol has a greater financial cost on society then many other dieases.
• Binge drinking accounts for a large part of this problem.
• Some of the costs of alcoholism include healthcare costs, motor vehicle crashes, low productivity at workplace and crime and law enforcement.

2). Health effects of alcohol -

• In many chronic illness and conditions consumption of alcohol is a major risk factor.
• In certain cancers, psychiatric disorders and as well as many cardiovascular and digestive diseases, alcohol consumption is implicated as a major culprit.
• Risk of diabetes, stroke and heart diseases also increases with excessive alcohol use.

3). Aggression and violance associated with alcohol use -

• Aggression and violance because of the increased consumption of alcohol may cause intentional injuries along with some unintentional injuries.
• Many physical violance cases are linked with it.

4). Effect of alcohol on the family -

• It is a major area of concerns as the effects which are observed in the family due to problem of alcoholism may affect a whole society some day.
• Financial problem in family, intimate violance of partners, impair ability to make a decision and neglect of child care are some of the effect of alcoholism on families.

5). Child abuse -

• Consumption of alcohol during pregnancy may result in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
• As a result, children affected by this syndrome may develop many long and short symptoms.
• Children growen up in families, where an individual is suffering from the alcohol abuse problem, may also develop the same problem.
• Children may develop psychological and emotional problems if grown up with parents suffering from severe alcohol use disorder.