Alcohol

Alcohol is a class of organic compound which contains the hydroxyl (-OH) group bound to a carbon atom. More commonly it is the name given to a drink that contains the chemical ethanol produced by the fermentation process of fruit, vegetables or grains. Alcohol is a legal drug in many countries, with varying legal drinking ages. Many negative health effects have been associated with drinking, such as liver damage and cancer, although in moderation, there have been some noted benefits.

Why do I go red when I’m embarrassed or have been drinking?

Blushing is a physiological response which is triggered when we are stressed.
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Top 10 countries that drink the most beer

The UK doesn't even rank in the top 10.
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What is memory?

Why photographic memory is often misunderstood – and simple tricks to boost your memory.
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Why do I turn into a weeping wreck when I’m hungover?

Hanging like the gardens of Babylon? GP Nish Manek explains why your anxiety is soaring right now.
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Could we survive on beer alone?

Asked by: Cassandra Sturgeon Delia
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Cheers! Method for turning spent grain from beer production into biofuels and plant-based foods developed

The technique could be used to produce animal feed, protein for use in human foods, synthetic rubber, materials for creating plastics, and biofuels, the researchers say.
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Does putting a spoon in an opened bottle of champagne keep it fizzy?

Will this old wives’ tale help to keep the champers bubbly or will it lose its fizzle?
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Is Dry January worth it?

After an alcohol-infused festive season, many people stay off the booze in January. But while your wallet might thank you, do we really see any health benefits from just one month of sobriety?
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What happens to your body after eating Christmas dinner?

One Christmas meal could fuel a 1.7-day hike in the Himalayas - that's a lot of calories to burn!
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Drinking in pubs creates "perfect storm" for spreading coronavirus

Academics' warning comes after households mixing in pubs and homes has been blamed for a rise in cases in Preston.
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Pubs packed with non-alcoholic drinks push more people to pick the booze-free option

The research could pave the way for increasing the selection of non-alcoholic drinks in pubs and bars.
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Plants before wine, you're more likely to feel fine, study finds

People taking plant extract supplement before and after drinking alcohol found their hangover headache intensity and nausea lowered.
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A minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips – heavy drinking adds 4cm to waistline

Daily drinking over a lifetime has been found to add up to 4cm to older adults' waistlines, in addition to health risks of higher blood pressure, stroke and poorer liver function.
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Is the saying ‘beer before wine, you’ll feel fine’ true?

We’ve all said it, heck, we’ve even tried it… but is there any truth behind this drinking ‘rule’?
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Wine is under threat from climate change, so change to hardier grapes, experts warn

Global warming threatens up to 85 per cent of the world's wine-growing regions, a study has shown.
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How to survive a hangover

As the party season enters full swing, University of Bath health Psychologist Sally Adams explains how to survive the repercussions after a night of drinking.
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Is ‘snakebite’ just a mixture of lager and cider, or a chemical reaction between the two?

Asked by: Simon Bartlett, via email
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Why is it better to store wine horizontally?

Asked by: Everett Lowenstein, Portland, USA
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Beer could, quite literally, be fuelling your future summer BBQ

Left-over barley can be changed into carbon and used to heat homes in winter or as charcoal for summer barbecues, test results showed.
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MDMA therapy shows promise in treating alcohol misuse

Preliminary study indicates that the drug outperforms conventional therapies in preventing relapse.
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Why does drinking alcohol trigger my anxiety?

Alcohol’s psychological effects depend on our mental state, it enhances our focus on the present and disrupts sleep which can emphasise feelings of anxiety.
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Why do some people get aggressive after drinking alcohol?

Being a lover or a fighter when drinking all depends on your personality when sober as alcohol makes consumers more impulsive and exaggerates their usual temperament.
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Ancient Egyptian ale recreated from 5,000-year-old yeast

As far as taste goes, apparently "the beer isn’t bad."
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Everything you need to know about synthetic alcohol

Could Alcarelle, a synthetic alcohol substitute being developed in UK labs, spell the end of binge drinking, hangovers, and alcohol-related diseases?
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