Alcohol has been used as a medicine. Alcohol was used for centuries as a medicine in childbirth, sedation, and surgery. Alcohol is digested in the same way that food is digested.
Alcohol is unique because it requires no digestion.
It can be absorbed directly from the stomach, and even more rapidly from the small intestine. Moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages is generally not harmful to the body. However, it's not recommended that you start drinking for health benefits. Alcoholic beverages do not provide weight-increasing calories. Alcohol is not a drug.