Alcohol is a product that is created by fermenting fruits and grains. What does it mean to ferment? Fermenting is a chemical process by which yeast combines with certain nutrients, to produce new molecules… in this case alcohol. Fermented drinks have been around for a long time, even as far back as 2000-3000 B.C.! But the alcohol that fermentation creates is what causes people to experience intoxication (being drunk) when alcoholic drinks such as beer or wine are consumed. 

Why do people experience intoxication? Alcohol is a depressant which means it slows down your central nervous system. This is why you get the slurred speech, impaired movements, and the inability to react quickly (hence the many driving accidents!). The depressant effects also impair your judgements—you just don’t think as well (hence, you get behind the wheel… or blubber your private love to your ex… or decide drawing a mustache on your face with a permanent marker is a really good idea. Yeah… not so much.)

Having too much alcohol in your system can have very serious consequences.  You can lose the ability to feel pain (so when your pants catch on fire and your skin is burning, you don’t feel it—true story, btw). You can vomit from your body trying to save itself from the overdose (all over yourself and the cutie you were hoping to get to know… another true story).  You can pass out (knocking your head on something and causing a scar, permanent damage or worse… yes, all have happened).  You can pass out AND then throw up… and then die when you choke on your vomit because you are passed out. (Yes, this happens.).  Or you may simply enter a coma or die from a severe overdose when your body just shuts down (all true stories… make sure none of them are your story.)