Alcohol

Last Updated: January 16, 2025

Alcohol is one of the world’s favorite intoxicants. It is frequently found at social gatherings because it provides a short-term relaxing effect. Consuming alcohol faster than one’s body can process it will result in alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal.

Alcohol is most often used for

What is alcohol?

Alcohol, also known as drinking alcohol or ethanol, is the main ingredient in a wide range of social drinks and the reason for the differentiation between “alcoholic” and “nonalcoholic” drinks.

It is a neuroactive chemical that is able to change one's perception, and it has a unique metabolic pattern relative to other sources of calories (the macronutrients; carbohydrates, proteins, and dietary fats). It contributes 7 calories per gram energy-wise, but this does not always correlate well with body weight like the other macronutrients do.

What are other names for Alcohol?
Note that Alcohol is also known as:
  • Beer
  • Gin
  • Ethanol
  • Liquor
  • Spirits
  • Vodka
  • Whiskey
  • Wine
  • Drinking alcohol
Alcohol should not be confused with:
  • Alcohol (the chemistry definition)
Dosage information

Formulation:

Pure ethanol (alcohol) is a liquid. Consumption is measured in units corresponding to a given amount of pure ethanol; the amount varies by country. In the United States, one unit (or “standard drink”) of alcohol is a drink containing 0.6 fluid ounces of ethanol (14 grams) — typically 12 oz (355 mL) of 5% alcohol by volume (ABV) beer, 5 oz (150 mL) of 12.5% ABV wine, or 1.5 fl oz (25 mL) of spirits with a 40% alcohol content (80 proof).[1]

Dosages:

There is no amount of alcohol that it is advisable to consume. However, many people choose to drink moderately. “Light” and “moderate” drinking are not universally defined in the literature, but they fall between heavy drinking and abstinence from drinking (i.e., having no ethanol intake whatsoever).

The US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines heavy drinking as follows:[2]

Heavy drinking (to be avoided)

Adult women: Either 8 or more units per week or 4 or more units in a single day

Adult men: Either 15 or more units per week or 5 or more units in a single day

Other Considerations:

Even moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer in a dose-dependent way, especially for women. The lifetime risk of alcohol-related cancer in women who consume less than one unit of alcohol per week is 16.5%; one unit per day, 19%; two units per day, 22%. In men, these numbers are 10% for those who consume less than one unit per week, 11% for those who consume one unit per day, and 13% for those who consume two units per day.[3]

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Examine Database References
  1. Cortisol - Välimäki MJ, Härkönen M, Eriksson CJ, Ylikahri RHSex hormones and adrenocortical steroids in men acutely intoxicated with ethanolAlcohol.(1984 Jan-Feb)
  2. Testosterone - Mendelson JH, Mello NK, Ellingboe JEffects of acute alcohol intake on pituitary-gonadal hormones in normal human malesJ Pharmacol Exp Ther.(1977 Sep)
  3. Testosterone - Sierksma A, Sarkola T, Eriksson CJ, van der Gaag MS, Grobbee DE, Hendriks HFEffect of moderate alcohol consumption on plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testosterone, and estradiol levels in middle-aged men and postmenopausal women: a diet-controlled intervention studyAlcohol Clin Exp Res.(2004 May)
  4. Testosterone - Sarkola T, Fukunaga T, Mäkisalo H, Peter Eriksson CJAcute effect of alcohol on androgens in premenopausal womenAlcohol Alcohol.(2000 Jan)
  5. Testosterone - Low plasma testosterone values in men during hangoverJournal of Steroid Biochemistry.()
  6. Growth Hormone - M Välimäki, J A Tuominen, I Huhtaniemi, R YlikahriThe pulsatile secretion of gonadotropins and growth hormone, and the biological activity of luteinizing hormone in men acutely intoxicated with ethanolAlcohol Clin Exp Res.(1990 Dec)
  7. Adrenaline - Koziris LP, Kraemer WJ, Gordon SE, Incledon T, Knuttgen HGEffect of acute postexercise ethanol intoxication on the neuroendocrine response to resistance exerciseJ Appl Physiol.(2000 Jan)
  8. Power Output - Barnes MJ, Mundel T, Stannard SRThe effects of acute alcohol consumption on recovery from a simulated rugby matchJ Sports Sci.(2012)
  9. Testosterone - W R Phipps, S E Lukas, J H Mendelson, J Ellingboe, S L Palmieri, I SchiffAcute ethanol administration enhances plasma testosterone levels following gonadotropin stimulation in menPsychoneuroendocrinology.(1987)
  10. Testosterone - Sarkola T, Eriksson CJTestosterone increases in men after a low dose of alcoholAlcohol Clin Exp Res.(2003 Apr)