Flow of

Poison in the
Body
Alcohol products have long
been used by people. These
products have different
purposes. They can be both
useful and harmful.
There are three types of alcohol that may be found in different
products:

Isopropyl Methanol Ethanol

Products with isopropyl and
methanol are used in
laboratories often for
experiments, cleaning, and
other purposes.
If products with these types
of alcohol are taken in the
body, a person may be
poisoned.
Ethanol is the type of
alcohol found in beverages.
This type of alcohol may
be consumed occasionally
and in moderation.
However, alcohol
beverages can be toxic and
cause harm to the body
especially if taken too
often and in large amounts.
 Types of Alcoholic Beverages
There are three types of alcohol beverages. These beverages are made
through fermentation or distillation.
Fermentation is the process
of mixing yeast, sugar, and
water to produced alcohol and
carbon dioxide.
Distillation is the process that
uses an already-fermented
mixture to produce a
substance that has higher
alcohol content.
 Types of Alcoholic Beverages
1. Beer
 It is made through
fermentation of barley,
corn, or rye.
 Beer is about 4% alcohol.
 There are many variants of
beer depending on the
amount of alcohol present.
 Types of Alcoholic Beverages
2. Wine
 It is produced through
fermentation of rice,
coconut, grapes and other
fruits.
 Most wines are about 12-
14% alcohol.
 Types of Alcoholic Beverages
3. Liquor
 It is produced through the
process of distillation.
 There are many types of
liquor.
 Most liquor types are about
40% alcohol.
The amount of alcohol present
in a beverage may be
measured using proof. The
proof of an alcoholic beverage
is twice its percentage of
alcohol.
For example, most beers have
8 proofs while the wines have
28 proofs and liquors have 80
proofs.
As the proof goes higher, the
toxicity of alcohol increases.
 Effects of Alcoholic Beverages Use
The effects of alcohol in the body depend on a person’s Blood
Alcohol Concentration (BAC). It is measured in percentages. As the
BAC increases, the effect on the body become greater as well. The
BAC of a person may change from time to time depending on the
different factors:

o Amount of alcohol taken

More amount of alcohol taken in the body contributes to a
higher BAC.
 Effects of Alcoholic Beverages Use
o Amount of time or speed the alcohol is taken
The faster a person consumes alcohol, the faster his or her
BAC increases.
o Body Fat
A person who has high percentage of body fat tends to have
higher BAC. Body fat does not absorb alcohol well. Hence,
alcohol stays longer in the bloodstream.
o Gender
Females generally tend to have faster rate of BAC because
the generally have higher percentage of body fat than males. In
some females, menstruation also affects the rise of BAC in the
body.
 Effects of Alcoholic Beverages Use

o Emotion
A person who experiences extreme emotion (anger, fear, etc.)
and is under distress often develops higher BAC.
o Food intake before alcohol intake
When a person has an empty stomach upon drinking, alcohol
mixes with the bloodstream more quickly, thus increasing BAC.

Immune System
Alcohol weakens the
ability of a person to fight
off illnesses.
Digestive System
Alcohol increases the
risk of developing
cancers in different
parts of the digestive
system. Alcohol also
allows the stomach to
excrete more acids
that may cause ulcers.
Reproductive System
Alcohol drinking may
cause a delay in a
female’s menstrual cycle.
Alcohol also causes the
testes to decrease in size.
Nervous System
Alcohol greatly affects the function of the
brain. It may damage the cells and cause
seizures. A heavy drinker may suffer from
dementia, which is a general impairment
of mental functioning.
Cardiovascular System
People who consume alcohol are
at risk of having high blood
pressure and stroke.
Skeletal System
Alcohol drinking causes
loss of calcium in the
body. A heavy drinker may
also develop osteoporosis,
which causes the bones to
become thin and brittle.
Urinary System
Alcohol causes frequent
urination. Heavy alcohol
drinking may cause damage to
the kidney.