Safety of Food and Beverages: Alcoholic Beverages

Abstract

Alcoholic (ethanol containing) beverages include beers, wines, and spirits. Beers are alcoholic beverages brewed from germinated barley (malt), hops, yeast, and water. Wines are alcoholic beverages obtained from the fermentation of fresh grapes, but other fruits as well as certain grains, such as rice, can also be used. Spirits include all distilled spirituous beverages containing 15% or more of alcohol and are derived from grain (e.g., corn, barley, rye, and wheat), tubers (e.g., potato), fruit (e.g., grapes and berries), or sugar cane. The basic production of these products is described, and several potential health concerns are identified. However, the greatest concern for health is the alcohol content itself, which poses major public health problems and sometimes antisocial behaviors in many countries. Indeed, experts in some countries (e.g., Canada) are now recommending a drastic reduction in the guidelines for alcohol consumption.