Medical Experts Debate Value of Alcohol Use

October 26, 2012

Alcohol has been called both a tonic and a poison

This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I’m Barbara Klein.

And I’m Bob Doughty.

Drinking alcohol is socially acceptable behavior in many parts of the world. Some medical experts say light drinking may be good for your health, especially for the heart. But they say these health benefits should be compared to the many health risks linked to alcohol use.

Today we report on some of the issues involving alcohol. And we tell about findings that may help people who have grown dependent on alcohol.

Millions of people around the world have a glass of wine with dinner, drink a beer at a sporting event, or accept alcoholic drinks at a party.

The use of alcohol dates back more than ten thousand years. From then until now, alcohol has played an important part in human civilization. It is used in cultural and religious ceremonies, at social gatherings, and even for medical purposes.

Records of alcohol’s effects date back to ancient times. Alcohol has been called both a tonic and a poison. And medical experts continue to debate its value.

Alcohol is created through a process called fermentation. During this process, yeast is used to turn sugar into a simple molecule – ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol. Different kinds of sugar are used to make different alcoholic drinks. For example, the sugar from grapes is used to make wine. Sugar from grain is used to produce vodka and gin. And sugar from sugarcane or molasses can produce rum.