Alcoholic Beverages

An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol, although in chemistry the definition of alcohol includes many other compounds.

Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits.

Ethanol is a psychoactive drug that has a depressant effect. The drinking of
alcoholic beverages is very often an important part of social events in some societies, and it can be an important aspect of a community’s culture.

Some studies have suggested that in moderation, alcohol consumption has significant health benefits. These include a lower risk of heart attack, lower risk of diabetes, lower risk of Alzheimer's disease, reduced risk of stroke, and an increase in overall longevity. Alcohol increases 'good' cholesterol and decreases the 'bad' cholesterol, there are indications that frequent doses in moderation reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke. These benefits are all counteracted by excessive consumption.

 

Beer involves a relatively short (incomplete) fermentation process and an equally short aging process (a week or two) resulting in an alcohol content generally between 3-8%, as well as natural carbonation. Wine involves a longer (complete) fermentation process, and a relatively long aging process (months or years -- sometimes decades) resulting in an alcohol content between 7-18%. Distilled products are generally not made from a beer that would normally be palatable as fermentation is normally completed, but no aging is involved until after distillation. Most are 30% or greater alcohol by volume. Liqueurs are characterized by the way in which their flavors are infused and typically have high sugar content. Spirits typically contain 37.5% alcohol or greater and are not infused with flavors during the distilling process.

The tables below will give you an idea about what you are drinking.

Beer & Flavored &Malt Beverages

Brand	Alcohol by volume	Serving Size (oz)	Alcohol per serving (fl oz)	Calories per serving (g)	Carbs per serving (g)
Amstel Light	3.50%	12	0.42	95	5.0
Bartles & Jaymes Classic Original	3.90%	12	0.47	190	29.0
Bud Light	4.20%	12	0.50	110	6.6
Budweiser	5.00%	12	0.60	145	10.6
Coors Light	4.20%	12	0.50	102	5.3
Corona Extra	4.60%	12	0.55	148	14.0
Guinness Draft in Bottle	4.20%	12	0.50	128	10.6
Heineken	5.00%	12	0.60	150	11.5
Labatt Blue	4.70%	11.5	0.54	127	8.8
Mike's Hard Lemonade	4.00%	11.2	0.45	220	32.0
Miller Lite	4.20%	12	0.50	96	3.2
Natural Light	4.20%	12	0.50	95	3.2
Smirnoff Ice	5.00%	12	0.60	241	38.3

 

Spirits