The Conflicted History of Alcohol in Western Civilization

alcohol in science

In October, the Geological Society of America hosted its annual conference in person, with a new rule — there would no longer be alcohol allowed in the oral or poster session areas. The decision, which stemmed from a recommendation from the society’s committee on diversity in the geosciences, aimed to ensure cultural inclusivity and safety at these events. In both pure water and pure ethanol the main intermolecular attractions are hydrogen bonds. These boiling points are compared with those of the equivalent alkanes (methane to butane) with the same number of carbon atoms.

This approach has been described as being particularly well suited to appreciation of a given group’s conceptualisation of a phenomenon being studied 12. Despite the popularity of alcoholic beverages the world over, their potential dangers play a sinister leitmotif in human history. Wine might gladden the heart, according to biblical psalmists, but it could also sting like an adder.

1 Structure and Classification of Alcohols

So, because the body can only eliminate about one dose of alcohol per hour, drinking several drinks in an hour will increase your BAC much more than having one drink over a period of an hour or more. The World Health Organization disappointed many when it concluded last year that “when it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health”. But recent years have seen a growing popular thirst for non-alcoholic varieties of beer, wine and even gin from consumers eager to avoid health impacts and hangovers.

Policy

  1. Making the decision to study can be a big step, which is why you’ll want a trusted University.
  2. When ADH levels drop, the kidneys do not reabsorb as much water; consequently, the kidneys produce more urine.
  3. Lastly, there are no dedicated studies of transgressions of scientific norms by industry actors, nor of the controversies that have arisen for more than two decades.
  4. Higher alcohols are less soluble since the hydrocarbon chain starts to break an appreciable number of hydrogen bonds in water.
  5. However, it also means that the person must drink more alcohol to experience the same effects as before, which leads to more drinking and contributes to addiction.

Africa’s thousands of distinct cultures today are awash in sorghum and millet beers, honey mead, and banana and palm wines, many of which were likely “hangovers” from long ago. Nearly every aspect of life, from birth to death—everyday meals, rites of passage and major religious festivals—revolve around one or more of these alcoholic beverages. Similarly, grape wine is central to Western religions, rice and millet beers held court in ancient China, and a fermented cacao beverage was the beverage of the elite in pre-Colombian Americas. Because alcohol affects emotional centers in the limbic system, alcoholics can become anxious, depressed, and even suicidal. The emotional and physical effects of alcohol can contribute to marital and family problems, including domestic violence, as well as work-related problems, such as excessive absences and poor performance. The medulla, or brain stem, controls or influences all of the bodily functions that are involuntary, like breathing, heart rate, temperature and consciousness.

alcohol in science

Hence, despite transitions in political systems, religions and ways of life, the West’s use of and opinion toward beer and wine remained remarkably unchanged. But a technological development would alter the relationship between alcohol and humanity. Natural processes have no doubt produced foodstuffs containing alcohol for millions of years. Yeast, in metabolizing sugar to obtain energy, creates ethyl alcohol as a by-product of its efforts.

Patterns of consumption

At least acetaldehyde doesn’t make you feel intoxicated though, and it can be worked on more easily to shunt the rest of the alcohol from your system. Psilocybin-assisted therapy could be a promising treatment for alcohol use disorder. Drinking can change the brain in a way that makes people more likely to speak their mind, but the effects aren’t always straightforward.

Blood Alcohol Concentration

Smith suggested that; “bias is subtle and pervasive” 91 in funding effects, and by extension that the mechanisms are complex and may be difficult to detect. McCambridge and Hartwell 85 noted; ‘the lack of prior quantitative study of the alcohol industry’s possible involvement in subversion of science is somewhat surprising in view of the evidence available on the effects of funding by other industries’ 85. Andreasson and McCambridge 16 suggested that; ‘in addition to the potential for bias in the design, conduct, and reporting of research, industry funding for a particular topic may or may not be selected for scientific reasons. To the extent that funding for a particular research question is dictated by commercial reasons, it is likely to alter the research agenda’ 16. Other scientists also address cumulative bias on topic areas and resulting agenda setting 25, 46, 56, 80, 86, 99. According to Stein 37, ‘industry only provides funding for certain kinds of issue, and fails to address many key research and policy questions’ 37.

The major contribution of this study is to clarify the nature of the concerns of the research community and to draw attention to the need for, and inform the detailed content of, further research. Firstly, there clearly is 12 Steps of AA What Are the Principles of AA much concern about industry activities at the science/policy interface. Yet, there are few studies of this issue, despite the longevity of the expressions of concern. Secondly, alcohol industry funding as a source of bias in science is remarkably under?studied. Lastly, there are no dedicated studies of transgressions of scientific norms by industry actors, nor of the controversies that have arisen for more than two decades.

About Andy Dingfelder

Andy is a Technology Manager with over 20 years of experience in Software Development, Project Management and Team Management in Telco, Healthcare and General SDLC. Full bio is available at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dingfelder Follow at http://twitter.com/dingfelder Andy Dingfelder lives in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand with his wife and two daughters.
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