8 Alcohol and Its Effects Alcohol is one of the most commonly used and abused drugs by people of all ages and backgrounds. Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the intoxicating substance in beer, wine and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation process, in which certain yeasts convert fruit, sugar and grain into ethyl alcohol.
Proof refers to the percentage of pure alcohol in a beverage.
For example, a 100-proof bottle of vodka is 50 percent alcohol. The distillation process involved in the production of liquor results in the higher alcohol content. Alcohol's Effects Physiologically, alcohol is a depressant that also acts as an anesthetic in the central nervous system. Although a depressant, alcohol has a unique action, which initially creates a feeling of mild and pleasant stimulation. It is absorbed quickly from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream and starts to show effect in five to ten minutes.