Chapter 8: Alcohol: Social Beverage/Social Drug

acetaldehyde

a by-product of alcohol metabolism, produced through the action of alcohol dehydrogenase.

acetaldehyde dehydrogenase

An enzyme in the liver that converts acetaldehyde to acetic acid in alcohol metabolism.

acetic acid

A by-product of alcohol metabolism, produced through the action of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase.

alcohol dehydrogenase

an enzyme in the stomach and liver that converts alcohol into acetaldehyde.

antidiuresis

a condition resulting from excessive reabsorption of water in the kidneys.

antidiuretic hormone

a hormone that acts to reabsorb water in the kidneys prior to execution from the body.

aqua vitae

a brandy, the first distilled liquor in recorded history.

balanced placebo design

a feature of drug research studies that can distinguish psychological effects (due to subjective expectations) from physiological effects (due to the pharmacology of the drug)

barley malt

Barley after it has been soaked in water, sprouts have grown, sprouts have been removed, and the mixture has been dried and crushed to a powder.

blackout

amnesia concerning events occurring during the period of alcoholic intoxication, even through consciousness had been maintained at that time.

blood-alcohol concentration

The number of grams of alcohol in the blood, expressed as a percentage.

brewing

the process of producing beer from barely grain.

congeners

Nonethyl alcohols, oils, and other organic substances found in trace amounts in some distilled spirits.

distillation

a process by which fermented liquid is boiled and then cooled so the condensed product contains a higher concentration of alcohol than before.

distilled spirits

The liquid product of distillation, also known as liquor

ethyl alcohol

The product of the fermentation of natural sugars. It is generally referred to simply as alcohol, through several types of nonethyl alcohol exist.

fermentation

the process of converting natural sugars into ethyl alcohol by the action of yeasts.

mash

Fermented barley malt, following liquefaction and combination with yeasts.

oxidation

a chemical process in alcohol metabolism.

temperance movement

a social movement in the United States, beginning in the nineteenth century, that advocated the renunciation of alcohol consumption.