Ethanol is the purest from of alcohol. It is very strong and very dangerous. A small amount of ethanol can kill.
After a person has a drink, the ethanol in the drink is directly absorbed into their bloodstream.
Ethanol slows down a person’s central nervous system, making them think, act and talk more slowly. It is this effect that causes alcohol to be classified as a depressant.
Six teenagers from a school in Aldridge, England were recently rushed to hospital after swallowing ethanol. The six were copying a scene from the television show, ‘Waterloo Road’, where a student is rushed to hospital by a teacher after the student drinks ethanol.
They were rushed to Walsall Manor Hospital, where they were treated quickly. They have managed to escape serious harm.
Light drinking affects a person’s speech, balance, coordination and vision, even when they don’t feel drunk. Heavier drinking affects motor skills, judgment and the ability to estimate distances.
A beer usually contains between 4 and 6 percent ethanol. Wine contains 12 percent ethanol, on average.
Ethanol damages the white matter in a person’s brain. The damage can be seen using MRI. The vomiting or respiratory depression associated with drinking is a sign of alcohol poisoning. Repeated consumption of ethanol can result in stomach ulcers, as well as damage to the liver.
Signs of alcohol poisoning. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Half of all alcohol-related injuries and deaths are caused by social drinkers, i.e., people who normally drink wisely but happen to overdo it on a particular occasion.
The younger a person starts drinking is the more likely they are to develop alcohol-related problems later on in their life.
This holiday season, if you drink, try to do so in moderation. If you drink, don’t drive.
Alabama Theatre Marquee, Birmingham (Photo credit: Max Wolfe)
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