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Alcohol, also known as ethanol, is made from fermenting sugars found in grains, such as rice barley or fruits. Alcohol is the most widely abused drug among young Americans. It is a depressant and is addictive.
Alcohol concentrations vary widely between drinks. Wine and beer usually contain 5-15%, while 'hard' liquor can have 40% or more. It is good to have an idea of the alcohol content of whatever you are drinking, since it is the amount of alcohol in the drink, not the drink itself, that determines how the drink will affect you. The effects of alcohol also depend on body weight, tolerance, metabolism and the amount of other food in the stomach. Because of these differences, a woman can get more intoxicated than a man when they have both drunk the same amount of alcohol. 'One drink' is generally defined as 12 ounces (one bottle) of beer, 5 ounces (one glass) of wine or 1.5 ounces (one shot) of liquor.
Effects of Low to Moderate Amounts of Alcohol
Effects of Large Amounts of Alcohol
Effects of Alcohol Overdoses
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