Drinking And Driving Essay, Research Paper

ALCOHOL is the most commonly used psychoactive (mind-altering) substance used in the United States. Ethyl alcohol is the active psychoactive drug found in alcoholic beverages. It is produced as a waste product of the fermentation of carbohydrates, and is consumed worldwide for the social and psychological effects it produces. Beer is a low potency alcoholic beverage made by fermenting grains and then extracting the liquid from the mash. Wine is a relatively low potency alcoholic beverage made by fermenting fruit juices (or other sugary liquid). Distilled spirits are high potency alcoholic beverages that are made by fermenting grains or fruit juices and then distilling the resulting liquid to reduce its water content and to concentrate its alcohol.