Alcohol is a substance that results from sugars and starches undergoing a process called fermentation. These sugars and starches come from fruits and grains. Fermentation begins when yeast is added to these sugars. As the yeast “eats” the sugar, a by-product (alcohol) is created. Show
[caption id="attachment_11356" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Other common names for alcohol include ethanol, ethyl alcohol, fermentation alcohol and grain alcohol.[/caption] It is a clear, colorless, volatile liquid that is able to mix completely with water. Alcohol is flammable and has a burning taste and a strong, powerful smell like ether. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] Alcohol absorption begins in the stomach, into the bloodstream and eventually into the body's tissues.[/caption] The rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the body varies from person to person and varies based on a number of factors including a person’s sex, age and weight. The level of intoxication may depend upon the amount and type of food that the person ate prior to drinking alcohol as well. Excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time causes serious physical, mental, professional and social problems. The repercussions of these problems extend beyond just the person themselves - affecting a person’s family, friends, neighbors and the community to which they belong as well as affecting their job, co-workers, employers and the overall safety in and around their workplace. Screening Cut-Off and Alcohol Detection TimesThe average legal cut off limit for BAC (blood alcohol concentration) is 0.08% but it varies from state to state. The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) has proposed bringing this legal limit down to 0.05% for all 50 states. They claim that at 0.05% BAC, some visual and cognitive impairment can already be observed in many drivers. Please see BAC effects further down for more detailed information on the effects of alcohol at different BAC levels. On average, upon consumption, detection times for alcohol are as follows: Blood Saliva Urine Hair 12 hours 6-12 hours 6-24 hours (up to 5 days with EtG) 7-90 days with EtG DEA Drug ClassAlcohol is not included in the Controlled Substance Act and will therefore not be found under any of the DEA Schedules I, II, III, IV and V. Along with tobacco, alcohol is legal to use. They are two of the deadliest yet most widely used drugs in the United States. Alcohol Drug TypeYes, alcohol is a drug and is considered a depressant. Depressants slow down vital functions and intoxication symptoms manifest as unsteady movement, slurred speech, disturbed perceptions and slow reaction time. Alcohol’s “mild” depressant effects kick-in when a person consumes more than the body can handle. At “overdose levels”, the more severe depressant effects begin to show including toxicity (the body begins to expel the poison thru vomiting), pain tolerance, unconsciousness or coma and worst - death. These reactions depend upon the amount of alcohol a person consumes and how quickly. Categories of AlcoholThere are two main categories of alcoholic beverages, 1) Fermented beverages made from fermenting fruits, grains and other sugars like honey and 2) Distilled beverages made from distilling fermented beverages. A sub-category, fortified wines, is made from blending categories 1 and 2, usually wine + brandy. Fermented Beverages
Distilled Beverages
Fortified Wines
Alcoholic Beverages and Their Alcohol ContentAlternative Names of Alcohol
Side Effects of AlcoholWhen alcohol is absorbed into the body, it affects many vital organs including the brain. The parts of the brain that alcohol affects are those that are responsible for motor functions, judgment, memory and speech. These effects are what we perceive as the common signs of drunkenness like difficulty walking, impulsive behavior, memory lapses and slurred speech. Long-term over-consumption can actually shrink the frontal lobes, eventually leading to impaired thinking abilities. [caption id="attachment_15699" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Drug-Drug Interactions Chart[/caption] This kind of information is especially relevant to employers, safety managers, workplace supervisors and other key employees who are responsible for implementing their organization’s Drug Free Workplace programs. Having trusted employees well-trained and in place to spot or recognize drug or alcohol impairment in the workplace is a critical component for the program to succeed. It is not as simple as smelling the alcohol on somebody’s breath. Having close working relationships with the other employees, a safety manager for example will be able to tell, even from across the room, minute changes in behavior that may be due to alcohol intoxication, hopefully before anything untoward happens in the workplace. If an employee is suspected of being drunk on the job, its important to perform an EtG alcohol test to protect the safety of the employee and the company. Short Term Side Effects of Alcohol UseMost adults will not suffer from any detrimental effects from consuming a small amount (1 or 2 servings) of alcohol per day. In fact, at this low level of consumption, alcohol may even help lower the risk of heart disease and dementia. Above safe doses however, and depending upon a person’s weight and recent food intake (if any), the short term effect is that brain activity begins to slow down. This reduced brain activity is evidenced by feelings of relaxation, partial loss of inhibitions, loss of concentration, slower reflexes and poor coordination. Other short term effects of excess alcohol intake may include:
Long Term Effects Alcohol UseOver consumption of alcohol over a long period of time will slowly cause brain cells to die, eventually leading to disorders of the brain and reduced mental and physical functions. Alcohol tolerance also begins to set in, and the body becomes too accustomed to alcohol that it requires higher and higher doses without even experiencing the short term effects that should ideally signal the person to stop drinking. Other long-term effects of alcohol abuse include:
Alcohol Dependence (Alcoholism)Alcohol tolerance is a long term effect of alcohol abuse. It can lead to dependence. Alcohol dependence is when a person is mentally and physically addicted to alcohol, constantly craving a drink in order to get by. Alcoholism is a chronic disease. It is a not a simple case of weakness. Signs of alcoholism may include:
While it is not a supervisor’s or a safety manager’s job to diagnose alcoholism, knowing the signs will go a long way towards ensuring that nobody slips past their notice. The ultimate goal is to be able to refer employees to the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) after having gone through the proper procedures as outlined in the organization’s Workplace Drug Testing Policy. This should include sending the concerned employee for an appropriate drug test perhaps under the provisions stated for random drug testing or reasonable suspicion testing, etc. BAC EffectsThe table below is lifted from the CDC website under Impaired Driving Facts. It shows the effects of alcohol on a person’s driving abilities and at what level BAC these effects can be observed. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)* Typical Effects Predictable Effects on Driving .02% - About 2 alcoholic drinks** .05% - About 3 alcoholic drinks** .08% - About 4 alcoholic drinks** .10% - About 5 alcoholic drinks** .15% - About 7 alcoholic drinks**
* The number of drinks listed represents the approximate amount of alcohol that a 160-pound man would need to drink in one hour to reach the listed BAC in each category. ** A standard drink is equal to 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content), 8 ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content), 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content), 1 shot of 80 proof (40% alcohol content) distilled drinks like whiskey gin, vodka, rum. History of AlcoholAlcoholic drinks from fermented fruit, grains and honey have been around for thousands of years. The following is an interesting timeline showing when alcohol figured in the history of human civilization:
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