Arielle Cruz
Alcohol is a beverage made from fermented grains or fruit, and it has been a part of human civilization for thousands of years. Alcoholic drinks are typically divided into three classes: beers, wines, and spirits. However, there are many different types of alcoholic drinks, and the variety available can be confusing. This variety is due to the numerous cultures across the globe that have developed distinct drinking cultures, integrating alcoholic drinks into social gatherings and religious ceremonies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of different alcoholic drinks in the world | Many, including beer, wine, cider, vodka, champagne, malt liquor, etc. |
| Most consumed alcoholic beverage | Beer |
| Alcohol consumption in the US | 86% of adults have consumed alcohol, with 70% drinking in the last year and 56% in the last month |
| Alcohol consumption worldwide | About 33% of all humans currently drink alcohol |
| Alcohol's classification | Group 1 carcinogen |
| Alcohol's impact on health | Alcohol is one of the world's largest risk factors for premature death |
| Alcohol's impact on traffic deaths | Alcohol is responsible for around a third of all traffic deaths in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and many European countries |
| Alcohol use disorder | Refers to the drinking of alcohol that causes mental and physical health problems, including compulsive drinking and an inability to stop despite the harm caused |
| Alcohol standard drink size in the US | 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol |
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What You'll Learn
- Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink worldwide, typically made from barley or a blend of grains and flavoured with hops
- Wine is made from fermented grapes and has a lower alcohol content than liquors
- Cider is a fermented alcoholic drink made from fruit juice, typically apple or peach
- Spirits are drinks with a higher ABV than undistilled drinks, including gin, vodka, rum, and brandy
- Liqueurs are flavoured with sweeteners and often used to create cocktails, such as absinthe
Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink worldwide, typically made from barley or a blend of grains and flavoured with hops
Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink worldwide. It is typically made from barley or a blend of grains and flavoured with hops. Beer is also likely the oldest alcoholic drink in history, with the earliest evidence of beer produced from barley dating back to 3500–3100 BCE in western Iran. In 2010, China's beer consumption hit 450 billion litres, almost twice that of the United States.
Beer is produced by brewing and fermenting starches from cereal grains, most commonly malted barley, although other grains such as wheat, maize, rice, oats, and rye may also be used. The grain is mashed to convert its starch into sugars, which are then fermented by yeast to produce ethanol and carbonation. Most modern beer is brewed with hops, which add bitterness and other flavours, and act as a natural preservative. The fermentation process also removes pesticide residues from the grain, with levels typically reduced by 50-90% during each step.
Beer typically has an alcohol content (ABV) of between 4% and 8%, with 5-6% being the standard in the United States. However, some beers have higher or lower concentrations, with "light beers" having 2-4% ABV and "malt liquors" having 6-8% ABV. Craft beers can have even higher alcohol content, with some reaching 12% ABV.
The word "beer" comes from Old English "bēor", which may be related to the word "barley" or borrowed from Latin "bibere", meaning "to drink". Beer was likely first brewed from barley in the Middle East around 13,000 years ago, and its production and consumption have since spread worldwide. Today, beer is distributed in bottles and cans and is commonly available on draught in pubs and bars.
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Wine is made from fermented grapes and has a lower alcohol content than liquors
Alcoholic drinks come in many varieties and forms, with beer being the most consumed alcoholic beverage globally. Wine, another popular and ancient alcoholic beverage, is made from fermented grapes.
The process of making wine involves crushing grapes to release their sugary liquid, which then undergoes alcoholic fermentation to transform it into an alcoholic beverage. Yeast consumes the sugar in the fruit and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, with the former being the main type of alcohol produced during fermentation. The pulp of grapes contains water, sugars, and acids, while their skin contains colour, tannin, and aroma compounds. The type of grape used and the amount of skin contact during juice extraction determine the colour and style of the wine.
The wine is then transferred to a container, typically made of oak, stainless steel, or concrete, for fermentation. Winemakers may choose to use specific yeast strains to control the flavours produced and the speed of fermentation. Additives such as sugar may be added to increase the alcohol content of the wine. After fermentation, the wine is often matured before bottling, and it may undergo a secondary malolactic fermentation process to convert malic acid into lactic acid, resulting in a smoother taste.
Wine typically contains lower alcohol levels than liquors. Most wines have alcohol levels ranging from 8% to 15% ABV, with fortified wines containing higher levels. In comparison, liquors often contain between 35% and 40% alcohol. Thus, a glass of wine will generally result in a lower blood alcohol content than a shot of liquor.
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Cider is a fermented alcoholic drink made from fruit juice, typically apple or peach
Alcoholic drinks are typically divided into three classes: beers, wines, and spirits. However, there are numerous types of alcohol from different cultures across the globe. Beer is the most consumed alcoholic beverage in the world.
Cider, a fermented alcoholic drink, is typically made from apple or peach juice. The word "cider" was first mentioned in Middle English in biblical use as "strong drink" or "strong liquor". In the 14th century, it was referred to as a "beverage made from apples". Cider is produced commercially in almost every Canadian province, usually with a 5–7% alcohol content. In Canada, ice cider, which has an alcohol content of 9–13% ABV, is a speciality.
In the United States, "cider" can refer to an unfiltered, unsweetened, non-alcoholic beverage made from apples, or hard cider, which is the alcoholic version. In Europe and the United States, a product similar to ice cider may be achieved through artificial, interior freezing, but it is not typically called "ice cider".
In Brazil, cider is a popular alcoholic beverage during the festive seasons of Christmas and New Year's. In Mexico, cider was historically used as a substitute for champagne on New Year's Eve, but now the practice is to drink it on Christmas Eve.
Cider can be made at home using a recipe for peach cider with honey, also known as peach cyser or peach and apple melomel.
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Spirits are drinks with a higher ABV than undistilled drinks, including gin, vodka, rum, and brandy
Alcoholic drinks are typically divided into three classes: beers, wines, and spirits. Spirits are drinks with a higher ABV than undistilled drinks, including gin, vodka, rum, and brandy. They are produced by the distillation of grains, fruits, vegetables, or sugar that have already gone through alcoholic fermentation. The distillation process concentrates the alcohol, resulting in a higher alcohol content.
The term "spirit" refers to liquor that typically does not contain added sugar and has an ABV ranging from 20% to as high as 80% or 90%. Most spirits have an ABV closer to the middle of this range, typically between 35% and 40%. Spirits are differentiated from other alcoholic drinks by their higher ABV and the fact that they are distilled.
Some popular spirits include vodka, gin, rum, and brandy. Vodka, for example, is typically made from fermented grains and potatoes and has a standard alcohol concentration of 40% ABV. Gin, on the other hand, has a wide range of ABV values, with some brands offering bottles with 750ml of 40% ABV gin for $28.99, while others offer 1.75L of gin with 40% ABV for $39.99.
Rum, another popular spirit, is made from fermented sugarcane or molasses and typically has an ABV of 40%. Some rum is "overproof," meaning it has an alcohol concentration of at least 57.5% ABV, with most overproof rum reaching 75.5% ABV. Similarly, tequila, a type of liquor made from the Mexican agave plant, typically has an ABV of around 40%.
In addition to these clear spirits, there are also brown spirits, such as brandy. Fruit brandy, also known as "fruit spirit," is produced by the distillation of fruit and typically has an ABV between 35% and 40%.
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Liqueurs are flavoured with sweeteners and often used to create cocktails, such as absinthe
Alcoholic drinks are typically divided into three classes: beers, wines, and spirits. Liqueurs, which are flavoured with sweeteners, are a type of spirit and are often used to create cocktails.
Absinthe is a spirit with a distinctive bitter anise flavour that comes from a mix of herbs, including fennel and wormwood. It is derived from several plants, including the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium ("grand wormwood"), together with green anise, sweet fennel, and other medicinal and culinary herbs. It was originally created in Switzerland in the 18th century by a French physician, Pierre Ordinaire. It is commonly referred to in historical literature as "la fée verte" or "the green fairy".
Absinthe is typically clear or light green in colour and is bottled at a high level of alcohol by volume (ABV). It is usually diluted with water before consumption, which creates a clouding effect called the "louche". The traditional French preparation involves placing a sugar cube on a slotted spoon over a glass of absinthe and pouring iced water over it. The final preparation contains one part absinthe and three to five parts water.
Absinthe has been banned in several countries, including Belgium, Brazil, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United States, and France, due to lobbying efforts by the temperance movement and the wine industry. However, in recent years, absinthe has experienced a revival, with many brands from France, Switzerland, Austria, and America hitting the market.
Absinthe is commonly used in cocktails, such as the New Orleans-style Sazerac, the Chrysanthemum Cocktail, and the Devil's Playground. It adds a bold and viscous taste and can cut through other strong flavours. Absinthe can also be enjoyed in the Parisian style, also known as the absinthe drip, where a sugar cube is placed on a slotted spoon over a glass of absinthe.
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Frequently asked questions
Alcoholic drinks are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. However, there are many subcategories within these classes, and the number of alcoholic drinks in the world is vast.
Vodka, gin, rum, whisky, tequila, brandy, and many more are examples of spirits, which are distilled drinks.
Chicha is an alcoholic beverage unique to the Aztec culture in Central America.
Standard drink sizes vary depending on the type of alcohol and the country. In the US, a standard drink contains 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol.
About 33% of all humans currently drink alcohol, with higher consumption rates in Europe and lower rates in North Africa and the Middle East.
