Alcohol Worksheet
1. Define fermentation and how alcohol is produced. Describe distillation, the process used in
forming “spirits.” www.alcoholandyou.org.uk/facts/howisitmade.html
2. What factors influence the extent of which alcohol affects the body? Google, “alcohols
damaging effects on the brain” and look for a NIH.gov website
3. How does alcohol enter the body? Describe the process. Where does most of the absorption
take place?
http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol/drinking-and-driving.html
4. How does alcohol affect the brain? What are some of the side effects?
Google, “alcohols damaging effects on the brain” and look for a NIH.gov website
5. How does alcohol affect the heart? Named and describe some of the side effects such as
cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias?
6. Why is the liver important? How does alcohol effect the liver? What are the different alcohol
related liver diseases? Describe each.
www.liverfoundation.org and click on “Alcohol related liver disease” in the drop down menu on
the left
7. How does alcohol effect the pancreases and stomach?
www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov Click on “Interactive body” and click on pancreases &
stomach
8. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. What are characteristics of physical abnormalities, learning
difficulties, and behavioral problems caused from FASD? How can I prevent FASD?
www.cdc.gov
Alcohol Worksheet Notes
1. Define Fermentation and how alcohol is produced. Fermentation is the process in which yeast
breaks down sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Yeast are tiny single-celled fungi that
contain special enzymes responsible for this reaction.
The word equation for this process is:
Glucose + yeast
dioxide
alcohol + carbon
Carbon dioxide gas bubbles out of the fermenting solution into the air leaving a mixture of
ethanol and water. It's important that no air is present or the yeast will produce ethanoic acid the chemical found in vinegar.
Describe distillation, the process used in forming “spirits.”
Yeast cannot survive in high levels of alcohol, so to create stronger spirits an additional process,
distillation, is required. Fermented drinks are distilled to create vodka, rum and other spirits.
Distillation relies on ethanol having a lower boiling point than water. When the fermented drink
is heated the ethanol vaporises at 78.5 degrees and the water is left behind (water boils or
vaporises at 100 degrees). The ethanol gas is caught and cooled so it condenses into a stronger
concentration of ethanol liquid.
http://www.alcoholandyou.org.uk/facts/howisitmade.html
2. What factors influence the extent of which alcohol affects the body?
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/aa63.htm
 how much & how often a person drinks
 age & how long a person has been drinking
 environment: person’s age, level of education, gender, genetic background, and family
history of alcoholism
 prenatal alcohol exposure
 general health status
3. How does alcohol enter the body? Describe the process. Where does most of the absorption
take place? http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol/drinking-and-driving.html
Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream via small blood vessels in the walls of the stomach and
small intestine. Within minutes of drinking alcohol, it travels from the stomach to the brain,
where it quickly produces its effects, slowing the action of nerve cells.
Approximately 20% of alcohol is absorbed through the stomach. Most of the remaining 80% is
absorbed through the small intestine.
Alcohol is also carried by the bloodstream to the liver, which eliminates the alcohol from the
blood through a process called “metabolizing,” where it is converted to a nontoxic substance.
The liver can only metabolize a certain amount at a time, leaving the excess circulating
throughout the body. Thus the intensity of the effect on the body is directly related to the
amount consumed.
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4. How does alcohol affect the brain? What are some of the side effects?
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/aa63.htm
Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, and can affect the way the brain
looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think
clearly and move with coordination.
Side Effects: Difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times, impaired
memory
5. How does alcohol affect the heart? Named and describe some of the side effects such as
cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias?
Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing
problems including:
Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart muscle
Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat
Stroke
High blood pressure
6. Why is the liver important? (It processes what you eat and drink into energy and nutrients your
body can use. The liver also removes harmful substances from your blood.) How does alcohol
effect the liver? (Alcohol can damage or destroy liver cells) What are the different alcohol
related liver diseases? Describe each.
 Fatty liver disease is the build up of extra fat in liver cells. It is the earliest stage of
alcohol-related liver disease. There are usually no symptoms. Almost all heavy drinkers
have fatty liver disease. Reversible! However, if they stop drinking, fatty liver disease
will usually go away.
 Alcoholic hepatitis causes the liver to swell and become damaged. Symptoms may
include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever and jaundice. Up to 35
percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis. Alcoholic hepatitis can be mild or
severe. If it is mild, liver damage may be reversed. If it is severe, it may occur suddenly
and quickly lead to serious complications including liver failure and death.

Acoholic cirrhosis is the scarring of the liver -- hard scar tissue replaces soft healthy
tissue. It is the most serious type of alcohol-related liver disease. Symptoms of cirrhosis
are similar to those of alcoholic hepatitis. Between 10 and 20 percent of heavy drinkers
develop cirrhosis. The damage from cirrhosis cannot be reversed and can cause liver
failure. Not drinking alcohol can help prevent further damage.
http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/alcohol/
7. How does alcohol affect the pancreases and stomach?
www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov Click on “Interactive body” and click on pancreases &
stomach
A pancreas unaffected by alcohol sends enzymes out to the small intestine to metabolize food.
Alcohol jumbles this process. It causes the pancreas to secrete its digestive juices internally,
rather than sending the enzymes to the small intestine.
This inflammation is called pancreatitis, and it prevents the pancreas from working properly.
Pancreatitis occurs as a sudden attack, called acute pancreatitis. As excessive drinking continues,
the inflammation can become constant. This condition is known as chronic pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis is also a risk factor for the development of pancreatic cancer. A heavy drinker may
not be able to detect the buildup of pancreatic damage until the problems set off an attack. An
acute pancreatic attack causes symptoms including:
 Abdominal pain, which may radiate up the back
 Nausea and vomiting
 Fever
 Rapid heart rate
 Diarrhea
 Sweating.
Chronic pancreatitis causes these symptoms as well as severe abdominal pain, significant
reduction in pancreatic function and digestion, and blood sugar problems. Chronic pancreatitis
can slowly destroy the pancreas and lead to diabetes or even death.
While in the stomach, alcohol acts as an irritant and increases digestive juices (hydrochloric acid)
that are secreted from the stomach lining. Intoxicating amounts of alcohol can halt the digestive
process, robbing the body of vital vitamins and minerals. Chronic irritation may lead to damage
to the lining of the stomach.
Drinking alcohol and taking medication that causes stomach irritation, such as aspirin, can cause
gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), ulcers, and severe bleeding.
8. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) symptoms, which
include physical abnormalities, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems, can last a lifetime.
What are characteristics of physical abnormalities (Abnormal facial features, such as a smooth
ridge between the nose and upper lip (this ridge is called the philtrum); Small head size, Shorterthan-average height, Low body weight, Sleep and sucking problems as a baby, Vision or hearing
problems, Problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones) learning difficulties (Difficulty with
attention, Poor memory, Difficulty in school (especially with math), Learning disabilities, Speech
and language delays, Intellectual disability or low IQ, Poor reasoning and judgment skills) and
behavioral problems (difficulty with attention) caused from FASD? How can I prevent FASD?
(Don’t drink during pregnancy) (FASDs are caused by a woman drinking alcohol during
pregnancy. Alcohol in the mother’s blood passes to the baby through the umbilical cord. When a
woman drinks alcohol, so does her baby. Alcohol can cause problems for a developing baby
throughout pregnancy, including before a woman knows she’s pregnant. All types of alcohol are
equally harmful, including all wines and beer) www.cdc.gov
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