Alcohol

Note: This article is about Alcohol for typical uses of alcohol, see : drug abuse

A Spartan shows his son a drunk helote.

A woman clutching a glass of beer with her thighs.

Alcohol, in the form of ethanol, is a common drug consumed as beverages (and in some types of food, e.g. chocolates and desserts). Alcohol is the world's most widespread recreational drug. A person under the effects of alcohol is said to be drunk, or more scientifically, to be under alcohol intoxication. Common symptoms of alcohol intoxication include slurred speech, euphoria, impaired balance, loss of muscle coordination (ataxia), flushed face, dehydration, vomiting, reddened eyes, reduced inhibitions, and erratic behavior.

In times and places where drinking water is not safe, fermentation (the process by which alcohol is created) kills many harmful microbes present in the water, and its continued presence reduces the risk of re-contamination.

Other forms of alcohol are used as fuel and as disinfectants (e.g. skin swabs before injections to reduce the chances of infection).

Alcohol and spanking

While the consumption of alcoholic beverages in moderation is generally acceptable in most cultures and religions, excessive consumption can become a health hazard and may lead to family and social problems. Due to the increased effect on developing brains, in some countries, children and adolescents under a certain age (typically 18) are not legally allowed to purchase alcohol. Some parents dish out spanking as a common punishment to their underage children if they catch them consuming alcohol without permission.

Alcohol consumption is forbidden in Islam. In some Muslim countries, a person caught consuming alcohol may be subject to corporal punishment. In 2009, in Malaysian Muslim woman was sentenced by a Sharia court (an Islamic religious court) to caning and a fine for drinking beer in a hotel bar. (Note that this form of caning is known as Syariah caning, and is very much less severe and is different from the judicial caning under Malaysian criminal law. See Malaysia#Syariah caning for details.) After much controversy surrounding the case, the Sultan of Pahang (a state in Malaysia) eventually commuted the sentence to three weeks of community service.

Alcohol and violence

Drunk people have a high tendency to display violent behavior. Alcohol plays an important role in many cases of domestic violence.

See also

• Drug abuse

More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Alcohol ]

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