Alcohol in Chemistry

The most commonly used alcohol is ethanol, C2H5OH, with the ethane backbone. Ethanol has been produced and consumed by humans for millennia, in the form of fermented and distilled alcoholic beverages, and was isolated by the Arab chemist, Al-Kindi, in the 9th century CE. It is a clear flammable liquid that boils at 78.4 °C, which is used as an industrial solvent, car fuel, and raw material in the chemical industry. In the US and some other countries, because of legal and tax restrictions on alcohol consumption, ethanol destined for other uses often contains additives that make it unpalatable (such as Bitrex) or poisonous (such as methanol). Ethanol in this form is known generally as denatured alcohol; when methanol is used, it may be referred to as methylated spirits ("Meths") or "surgical spirits".
The simplest alcohol is methanol, CH3OH, which was formerly obtained by the distillation of wood and therefore is called "wood alcohol". It is a clear liquid resembling ethanol in smell and properties, with a slightly lower boiling point (64.7 °C), and is used mainly as a solvent, fuel, and raw material. Unlike ethanol, methanol is extremely toxic: one sip (as little as 10 ml) can cause permanent blindness by destruction of the optic nerve and 30 ml (one fluid ounce) is potentially fatal.
Two other alcohols whose uses are relatively widespread (though not so much as those of methanol and ethanol) are propanol and butanol. Like ethanol, they can be produced by fermentation processes. (However, the fermenting agent is a bacterium, Clostridium acetobutylicum, that feeds on cellulose, not sugars like the Saccharomyces yeast that produces ethanol.)

Posted by Uma Hapsari

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol

Benefits of Drinking

Hi again blog fans, as a result of our blog being strongly focused on the negative impacts of drinking and the scary realities behind excessive alcohol consumption i decided to do some research on the benefits of drinking. Turns out there is some surprising information on the net if you know where to look. Here is my difference in opinion to our previously portrayed outlook on the subject.

Follow the link at the bottom if you wish to learn more :)

Over the last five years, the health benefits of moderate drinking have been widely celebrated in the headlines. To those who think everything enjoyable must be bad for you, this news might seem like a dream come true.

Of course, there are many caveats - and these studies don't indicate that teetotalers should take up drinking or that infrequent drinkers should start drinking more. The operative word here is drinking in moderation.

Studies show, for example, that health benefits only come with moderate drinking and are greatest for older men. And even moderate drinking is not recommended for women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, or for people who are under 21.

The strongest medical evidence exists for the link between moderate drinking and a reduced risk of heart disease.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/3968.php

Posted By Wesley Adams

Baijiu - Alcoholic beverage of the day

Hi blog buddies,

Today, I am going to introduce to you about a famous Chinese distilled alcoholic drink - Baijiu or Shaojiu. Shaojiu are also called "burn liquor" as well because it has the burning sensation in the mouth during consumption. It is known as one of the strongest liquor in the world, containing approximately 40-60% of alcohol by volume, even stronger than vodka which contains about 50% ABV. Baijiu is basically distilled from sorghum and has a unique flavour. Baijiu is served either warmed or at room temperature and pretty much like vodka, it is consumed in shot glasses.

Reference: http://yeschinatour.com/china-guides/chinese-culture/chinese-alcohol/

Posted by Christopher Wan

Origins/Types of Alcohol

Hey again guys, We have been focusing a lot on the negatives of Alcohol consumption, so with this post i have provided all the types of drinks that are available to OVER 18s :) these drinks are commonly sold in most pubs and licensed areas. This post simply describes what the beverage looks and tastes like or the brief origins of it for those who may have had no association with Alcohol.

SPIRITS

GIN - a colorless alcoholic beverage made by distilling or redistilling rye or other grain spirits and adding juniper berries or aromatics such as anise, caraway seeds, or angelica root as flavouring.

VODKA - originally distilled from fermented wheat mash but now also made from a mash of rye, corn, or potatoes.

RUM - distilled from cane juice, or from the scummings of the boiled juice, or from treacle or molasses, or from the lees of former distillations. Also, sometimes used colloquially as a generic or a collective name for intoxicating liquor.

WHISKEY - distilled from grain, potatoes, etc., especially in Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. In the United States, whisky is generally distilled from maize, rye, or wheat, but in Scotland and Ireland it is often made from malted barley.

TEQUILA - an alcoholic liquor distilled from the fermented juice of the Central American century plant Agave tequilana.

BRANDY - an alcoholic liquor distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.

LIQUEURS

(FLAVORED SPIRITS)

Liqueurs are flavored spirits prepared by infusing certain woods, fruits, or flowers, in either water or alcohol, and adding sugar, etc. Others are distilled from aromatic or flavoring agents.

WINES & CHAMPAGNE

RED WINE - wine having a red color derived from skins of dark-colored grapes.

WHITE WINE - any wine of a clear, transparent color, bordering on white, as Madeira, sherry, Lisbon, etc.; -- distinguished from wines of a deep red color, as port and Burgundy.

ROSE WINE - pinkish table wine from red grapes whose skins were removed after fermentation began.

CHAMPAGNE - a sparkling white wine made from a blend of grapes, especially Chardonnay and pinot, produced in Champagne.

SPARKLING WINE - any of various effervescent wines, such as champagne, produced by a process involving fermentation in the bottle.

VERMOUTH - a sweet or dry fortified wine flavored with aromatic herbs and used chiefly in mixed drinks.

ALE

LAGER - a type of beer of German origin that contains a relatively small amount of hops and is aged from six weeks to six months to allow sedimentation.

CIDER

BEER

http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01220/types_of_alcohol.htm

Posted By Wesley Adams

Drinking Nightmare TV ad for those not of legal drinking age (2009)

So here is one of the advertisements

I think this one is the most effective from what I've seen...especially for representing underage binge drinking.

So do you think this is effective?

Posted by Sarah O'Brien

Drinking Nightmare TV ad

So what do you think?

Effective?

Check out their other ones too...I think this one is especially realistic

Posted by Sarah O'Brien

Don't turn a night out into a nightmare

The Australian Government's recent campaign to warn young people about the dangers of binge drinking seem to have attracted actual attention for their eerily realistic approach. As we watch them we feel that we have been there before or we can see how easily we could be in this situation.


Their website offers more information on binge drinking:

http://www.drinkingnightmare.gov.au/


and they even have a game on the site!
http://www.drinkingnightmare.gov.au/internet/drinkingnightmare/publishing.nsf/Content/game



Posted By Sarah O'Brien

Alcoholic beverages in Japan

Okay, i'm going to take you to Japan today and and introduce some of their special alcoholic beverages.

Drinking in japan definitely plays an important role in their society. Drinking parties ties and strengthens their business and social lives together.

1) Happoshu - which is also known as "sparkling alcohol", it is a recent invention by the Japanese brewing companies,basically same taste with beer but less malt, resulting in a lighter taste.

2) Third beer - also called "Shin Janru" or the "New Genre". It is the newest development in the industry. It contains no malt, but instead, it uses soya, pea, and wheat spirits.

3) Rice Wine - it is usually known as "sake" outside of Japan. This kind of alcohol is brewed using rice, water and koji mold as the main ingredients. Its alcohol content is about 10-20%. Another thing is that It can be drunk either hot or cold.

4) Shochu - it is a distilled spirit with a rather high alcohol content, usually 20-40%. It is made from sweet potatoes, rice, wheat, or sugar cane. Shochu is often served mixed with water and ice, fruit juice and sparkling, or oolong tea.

5) Chuhai - it is a kind of fruit-flavoured alcoholic drinks with an alcohol content not over than 8 percent. It usually comes with lemon, ume, peach, grapefruit, lime, mandarin orange and some seasonal flavours as well.

6) Plum wine (a.k.a. umeshu) - Basically it is made out of Japanese plums, sugar and shohu. It is sweet, fruity, juice-like flavour appeals to those who dislike other alcoholic beverages. It can be made at home and is served mixed with soda.

Posted by Christopher Wan

Standard Drinks

Standard drinks graphically illustrates information on the equivalence of standard drinks of beer, wine and distilled spirits or liquor. Its accuracy has been established by medical and other health professionals.
a 12-ounce bottle or can of regular beer
a five-ounce glass of dinner wine
a shot of liquor or spirits (either straight or in a mixed drink)
Most countries define moderation at higher levels of consumption than does the US. For example, Australia, Italy and France consider from 3 to over four drinks per day for men to be moderate drinking. People are all different. To decide what level is appropriate for you, consult your doctor.


Posted by Uma Hapsari

Reference :
http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/AlcoholCaloriesAndWeight.html

Do you know that alcohol is good for your health?

Hello blog buddies,

Studies show that drinking moderately helps decrease your chances of having heart diseases and increases your life expectancy compared to those who do not drink at all. Isn't it good news?

For more information, feel free to visit:

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/HealthIssues/1074864884.html and,

http://eating.health.com/2008/01/30/is-alcohol-really-good-for-you/

Posted by Christopher Wan

Alcohol, Calories & Weight

Hey again, Throughout my research of Alcohol and its pro's and cons i came across this information, which up till now i believed the opposite. Drinking alcohol does not contribute to weight gain, according to scientific medical research.

The Data

Alcohol contains calories, but drinking alcohol doesn't lead to weight gain, according to extensive medical research, and many studies report a small reduction in weight for women who drink.
The reason that alcohol doesn't increase weight is unclear, but research suggests that alcohol energy is not efficiently used. Alcohol also appears to increase metabolic rate significantly, thus causing more calories to be burned rather than stored in the body as fat. Other research has found consumption of sugar to decrease as consumption of alcohol increases.
Whatever the reasons, the consumption of alcohol is not associated with weight gain and is often associated with weight loss in women. The medical evidence of this is based on a large number of studies of thousands of people around the world. Some of these studies are very large; one involved nearly 80,000 and another included 140,000 subjects.
Alcohol beverages contain no fat, no cholesterol, and very little sodium. Of course, the nutritional value of different alcohol beverages varies.
The moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with better health and longer life than is either abstaining from alcohol or abusing alcohol. However, the health benefits of drinking are associated with moderation. On the other hand, heavy drinking is associated with cirrhosis of the liver, breast cancer, and other health problems. The key word is moderation.

What is Moderation?

Moderation is often described in the US as two drinks a day for a man and one drink a day for a women. These drinks can't be "saved" over time and then drunk in one day.

A drink is:

- a 12-ounce bottle or can of regular beer

- a five-ounce glass of dinner wine

- a shot of liquor or spirits (either straight or in a mixed drink)

Remember that the alcohol content of standard drinks are equivalent. A drink is a drink is a drink. To a breathalyzer, they're all the same.
Most countries define moderation at higher levels of consumption than does the US. For example, Australia, Italy and France consider from 3 to over four drinks per day for men to be moderate drinking. People are all different. To decide what level is appropriate for you, consult your doctor.

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/AlcoholCaloriesAndWeight.html

Posted by Wesley Adams

Minimum drinking ages around the world

No Drinking Age
Albania
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Comoros
Equatorial Guinea
Fiji
Gabon
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Jamaica
Kyrgyzstan
Morocco
Solomon Islands*
Swaziland*
Togo
Tonga
Viet Nam

16
Antigua
Barbados
Belgium
Georgia
Germany
Greece*
Luxembourg
Malta
Norway*
Poland
Portugal
Spain (16 in Asturias)

17
Cyprus

18
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Bermuda
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Bulgaria
Cameroon
Canada (19 in some provinces)
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chile
China
Columbia
Congo, Republic of
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt*
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Guatemala
Guyana
Hungary
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Jamaica
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Latvia
Lesotho
Lithuania
Malawi
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Mozambique
Namibia
New Zealand
Niger
Nigeria
Norway*
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Russia
Samoa
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovak Republic
South Africa
Spain (16 in Asturias)
St. Maarten
Sweden*
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom (age 5 with parents)
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe

19
Nicaragua
South Korea

20
Iceland
Japan
Paraguay

21

Pakastan (for non-Muslims, prohibited for Muslims)
Palau
Sri Lanka
United States

-

-

Information from: http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/legaldrinkingage.html

Posted by Sarah O'Brien

Why is alcohol forbidden in Islam?

Intoxicants were forbidden in the Qur'an through several separate verses revealed at different times over a period of years. At first, it was forbidden for Muslims to attend to prayers while intoxicated (4:43). Then a later verse was revealed which said that alcohol contains some good and some evil, but the evil is greater than the good (2:219). This was the next step in turning people away from consumption of it. Finally, "intoxicants and games of chance" were called "abominations of Satan's handiwork," intended to turn people away from God and forget about prayer, and Muslims were ordered to abstain (5:90-91). (Note - the Qur'an is not arranged chronologically, so later verses of the book were not necessarily revealed after earlier verses.)

In the first verse cited above, the word for "intoxicated" is sukara which is derived from the word "sugar" and means drunk or intoxicated. That verse doesn't mention the drink which makes one so. In the next verses cited, the word which is often translated as "wine" or "intoxicants" is al-khamr, which is related to the verb "to ferment." This word could be used to describe other intoxicants such as beer, although wine is the most common understanding of the word.
Muslims interpret these verses in total to forbid any intoxicating substance -- whether it be wine, beer, gin, whiskey, or whatever. The result is the same, and the Qur'an outlines that it is the intoxication, which makes one forgetful of God and prayer, which is harmful. Over the years, the list of intoxicating substances has come to include more modern street drugs and the like.
The Prophet Muhammad also instructed his followers, at the time, to avoid any intoxicating substances -- (paraphrased) "if it intoxicates in a large amount, it is forbidden even in a small amount." For this reason, most observant Muslims avoid alcohol in any form, even small amounts that are sometimes used in cooking.



Posted by Uma Hapsari

References:
http://islam.about.com/od/health/f/alcohol.htm
http://www.transforming.cultures.uts.edu.au/images/muslim_girl.jpg

Are you an alcoholic?

Everyone loves alcohol, who doesn't?!

Okay.. Now you need to ask yourselves do you have some of the following symtoms..

• eating disorders


• making excuses to drink


• difficulty in thinking clearly


• depression


• having trouble with sleeping


• eating irregularly


• anxiety


• mood swings

if you happen to have at least 2, then you're one of them.

Posted by Christopher Wan

Get some help

In light of our recent posts discussing alcoholism, I decided to do some research on the support options available for those who suffer from alcoholism and other alcohol related issues. In this process, I discovered the Australian AA Website. I was very impressed with this website, and found it a clear, concise website abundant with helpful information.

The website includes:

• Information about the AA
• References to helpful information
• Information from health professionals
• Personal experiences of alcoholism and recovery
• Contact information and times of meetings/ events
• And much, much more.

What does the AA do?

Here is an excerpt from the website briefly detailing some of their services:

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
AA is an informal society of more than 2 million recovering alcoholics throughout the world. In Australia, there are about 18,000 members. They meet in 1800 local meetings spread around the country. Meetings range in size from a handful in some localities to a hundred or more in larger communities.
AA is nonprofessional – it doesn't have clinics, doctors, counsellors or psychologists. All members are themselves recovering from alcoholism. There is no central authority controlling how AA groups operate. It is up to the members of each group to decide what they do. However, the AA program of recovery has proved to be so successful that almost every group follows it in very similar ways.
AA is not a religious organisation nor is it affiliated with any religious body. It welcomes members of all religions, agnostics and atheists alike. You don't have to sign up or achieve anything to be a member. You're a member of a group if you choose to be. You can come and go as you please. No one is "in charge" of a group. We work through the offer of help and suggestion only. No one can tell you what you should or shouldn't do.
AA works through members telling their stories of what we used to be like, what happened and what we are like now. The AA program, known as The Twelve Steps, provides a framework for self-examination and a road to recovery, free of alcohol.

(http://www.aa.org.au/new-to-aa/what-is-aa.php)

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE AA FOR YOURSELF, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT:

http://www.aa.org.au/

Posted by Sarah O'Brien

Alcohol Addiction

Hello again,
There has been a huge increase on alcohol addiction over the past few years. People who cannot control his or her drink will be called as an alcoholic. Studies say that drinking too much may also lead to a lot of health issues including heart diseases, brain damage, and also the following things:

1. Too much alcohol can destroy brain cells, possibly leading to brain damage.
2. Alcohol greatly disturbs the structure and function of the central nervous system, hindering the ability to retrieve, consolidate, and process information.
3. Moderate consumption of alcohol can affect cognitive abilities while large amounts interfere with the oxygen supply of the brain causing a blackout when totally drunk.
4. Alcohol addiction may also inflame the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, and could cause cancer in these areas, especially in drinkers who also smoke.
5. Splurge drinking may produce irregular heartbeats, and abusers experience a higher risk of high-blood pressure, heart attacks, and other heart damage.
6. Alcohol also can harm vision, damage sexual function, slow circulation, be the grounds for malnutrition, and water retention.
7. lead to skin and pancreatic disorders, weaken the bones and muscles, thus, decreasing immunity

http://247helpyourself.com/AlcoholAddiction.htm
Posted by Christopher Wan

Under Age Drinking in Aus

UNDER AGE DRINKING

Alcohol consumption among underage people in Australia is a significant problem. The 2005 South Australian Secondary Students' Alcohol and Drug Strategy showed that over 85% of South Australian schoolchildren (aged 12-17 years) had tried alcohol and many young people engage in harmful drinking behaviours. Young people are especially at risk of experiencing harms from alcohol consumption as a younger person's ability to cope with alcohol is influenced by their physical size and stage of development. Young people generally have a smaller body size than adults, and therefore tolerate less alcohol. They also lack experience of alcohol and its effects. This lack of experience also means that their bodies have not developed any tolerance to alcohol.
There are laws relating to alcohol consumption by minors (those aged under 18 years). In South Australia, the major legislation which controls the sale and consumption of alcohol is the South Australian Liquor Licensing Act 1997.

In summary, minors:

- can consume alcohol provided it is not in a public place or regulated premises

- can consume alcohol in a public place under the supervision of an adult legal guardian or spouse provided that it is not a dry area, regulated premises or in or near to prescribed entertainment such as a dance

- can generally be on licensed premises before midnight (before 9:00 p.m. in an entertainment venue) but cannot obtain or consume alcohol

- are not allowed in areas of licensed premises declared out of bounds to minors, or in gaming areas

- are not allowed on licensed premises between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless in a designated dining area, a bedroom or an area approved for minors.

Posted By Wesley Adams

Responsible Service of Alcohol

Hello there!

Many of job seeker in New South Wales look for a job in hospitality.

There are always lots of jobs. Operators of hotels/pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafes, bars, function and events, harbour and bay cruise vessels are always seeking staff to work in their venues.
Be aware that by law, employers are required to comply with the required legislation for their industry, meaning they will only employ staff who have completed certain mandatory courses.

To be qualified in those fields, it is important to have the RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) certification. The RSA courses or training must be qualified by OLGR (NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing). The workshops is aimed to learn tangible skills that industry operators require.

Personally, I do have this qualification and I would like to say that this is necessary for job seeker, and moreover this is also a good course to know about basic knowledge of alcohol in general.

If you want to do the course, the following website might be useful :

http://www.thinqtraining.com.au/

posted by Uma Hapsari