Ethanol

Group Presentation
Objective: 5.1
Explain the process of fermentation and distillation in the manufacture of alcoholic
beverages. Include equations and sources of carbohydrates.
Objective 5.2
Discuss the uses of ethanol. Include fuel, pharmaceutical industries.
Objective 5.3
Discuss the social and economic impact of ethanol production and consumption.

Include the physiological effects of ethanol.

The Social Impact of Ethanol Production

The type of alcohol in the alcoholic drinks we drink is a chemical called ethanol. To make alcohol, you need to put
grains, fruits or vegetables through a process called fermentation (when yeast or bacteria react with the sugars in food
- the by-products are ethanol and carbon dioxide).

Fermentation is the most common method for producing fuel ethanol. The most common ethanol production
processes today use yeast to ferment the starch and sugars in corn, sugar cane, and sugar beets.

● The most common ethanol production processes today use yeast to ferment the starch and sugars in corn, sugar
cane, and sugar beets. The starch in corn kernels is fermented into sugar, which is then fermented into alcohol.
Ethanol is very cost effective so the production of alcohol will always increase.
Objective 5.3 Cont’d
The production of ethanol has brought about some positive social impacts such as increase in employment in some
countries and mechanization.

Ethanol production creates jobs in rural areas where employment opportunities are needed. According to the
Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production in 2019 accounted for more than 68,600 direct jobs across the
country, $43 billion to the gross domestic product, and $23 billion in household income.

However, ethanol production is a labour intensive process so mechanization increased and contributed to a reduced
demand for labour which decreased employment in some countries.

Although the production of alcohols are important as they are used as sweeteners and in making perfumes they also
have negative social impacts such as fatal injuries and excessive alcohol consumption.

The production of alcohol is associated with fatal occupational injuries and accidents as they work with machines and
the air can become lethal.

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a negative outcome such as violence. Alcohol abuse not only impacts
individuals and their families, but creates a lasting social impact on the community around them.

Thus, producing ethanol can increase the rate of violence in the society.
Objective 5.3 Cont’d

Social Impact of Ethanol Consumption

Alcohol consumption can have adverse social effects on the individual drinker, the drinker’s immediate environment and society as a
whole. Indeed, individuals other than the drinker can be affected, for example, by traffic accidents or violence.

Work Performance:

Alcohol consumption can affect work performance in several ways:

● Absences - There is ample evidence that people with alcohol dependence and drinking problems are on sick leave more
frequently than other employees, with a significant cost to employees, employers, and social security systems.
● Productivity - Heavy drinking at work may reduce productivity. Performance at work may be affected both by the volume and
pattern of drinking. Co-workers perceive that heavy drinkers have lower performance, problems in personal relationships and
lack of self-direction, though drinkers themselves do not necessarily perceive effects on their work performance
● Unemployment- Heavy drinking or alcohol abuse may lead to unemployment and unemployment may lead to increased
drinking.
Objective 5.3 Cont’d
Alcohol consumption and effects on family lives:

Drinking can impair how a person performs as a parent, a partner as well as how (s) he contributes to the functioning of the household.
It can have lasting effects on their partner and children, for instance through home accidents and violence.

Children can suffer when mothers drink during pregnancy. After birth, parental drinking can lead to child abuse and numerous other
impacts on the child’s social, psychological and economic environment.

The impact of drinking on family life can include substantial mental health problems for other family members, such as anxiety, fear and
depression.

Drinking outside the home can mean less time spent at home.
Objective 5.3 Cont’d
Alcohol consumption and domestic abuse:

Alcohol plays a role in a substantial number of domestic violence incidents, especially in the case of abusing husbands. Often both the
offender and the victim have been drinking.

The relationship between alcohol and domestic violence is complex and the precise role of alcohol remains unclear. Heavy drinking has
been strongly linked to violence between partners and to a lesser extent to violence towards others, possibly because proximity increases
the opportunities for violence.
Objective 5.3 continued
Economic Impact of Ethanol Production

The production of ethanol requires about 20 more persons than needed to

produce gasoline. Thus overall ethanol production provides jobs for millions of
people. It creates jobs in rural places too, which tends to be needed in such areas.

It also increases income for cane and corn farmers especially in times when the
demand for ethanol is high. To produce ethanol requires a lot of crop space which
is good for farmers as more acreage means more money. This can also be
negative as it means that less food goes out into the market but instead into the
factory to produce ethanol.
Objective 5.3 continued
Economic Impact of Ethanol Production ctd…

Ethanol production can significantly boost the value of the gross domestic product
(GDP) of a country. Another great advantage of ethanol production is that its
byproducts, such as molasses and carbon dioxide, are also marketable.

However the disadvantage of producing ethanol is that it relies on the quality of

the growing season; bad crops means higher prices for ethanol. Another
disadvantage is the costliness to produce ethanol. Even though ethanol
production is compatible with existing machinery, this can be bad as ethanol is
corrosive. It can damage pipelines used to transport it due to its water absorbing
property.
Objective 5.3 continued
Economic Impacts of Ethanol Consumption

The economic consequences of alcohol consumption can be severe, particularly

for the poor.

Apart from money spent on drinks, heavy drinkers may suffer other economic
problems such as lower wages and lost employment opportunities, increased
medical and legal expenses, and decreased eligibility for loans. A survey in Sri
Lanka indicated that for 7% of men, the amount spent on alcohol exceeded their
income.
Objective 5.3 continued
Economic Impacts of Ethanol Consumption ctd

The negative economic impact of ethanol consumption comprises both direct

costs - the value of goods and services delivered to address the harmful effects of
alcohol, and indirect costs - the value of personal productive services that are not
delivered as a consequence of drinking.

In industrialized countries, estimates of social and economic costs of alcohol use

can reach several percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), ranging for
instance from 1.1% in Canada to 5-6% in the case of Italy.
Objective 5.3 continued
Physiological effects of Ethanol
The impact of ethanol on one’s body can be categorized into two (2) groups: acute and chronic. The area most targeted during acute

ethanol intake is the Central Nervous System (CNS). This causes CNS depression which can lead to sedation, slurred speech, impaired

judgment, uninhibited behavior, euphoria and impaired sensory and motor skills. Increasing the concentration of ethanol will give rise of

feelings of confusion, stupor, coma and eventually death.

Chronic effects of ethanol intake consist of: injury in the liver, ethanol dependency, impaired memory, anemia (caused by folate and iron

deficiency), hyperlipidemia (high concentration of lipids in the blood) and cardiomyopathy (disease in the heart muscle which can lead

to heart failure).
Objective 5.3 continued
The use of ethanol throughout pregnancy may result in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

They are the most frequent non-heritable causes of intellectual disability which are identified by abnormalities in the face, low IQ, poor

coordination and stunted growth.

Objective: 5.4
Assess the impact of the ethanol industry on the environment. Make reference to
objective 1.3 in this module.