The Ethics of Alcohol
Ethanol is a commonly used chemical substance in modern society. It is the main component to almost all alcoholic beverages like beer and wine. Ethanol can described as a colourless liquid that has a high solubility rate in water and other organic compounds. Ethanol is a covalent compound made up of carbon, hydrogen and hydroxide which bond to create C2H5OH. In this post I will be discussing the risks and benefits of alcohol consumption and the ethanol that is present within it.
In an article posted by Drugs.com the subject of alcohol and its risks/benefits are discussed. The article begins with a brief summary of what alcohol is and how many grams of ethanol have to be present to equal 1 drink. The article then moves on to address the health hazards of alcohol consumption. It states that even in moderate doses alcohol consumption can lead to an increased risk of colon, rectum, liver, mouth, throat or breast cancer developing. The article also states that abuse of alcohol can lead to psychiatric problems like anxiety, depression and a decrease in social skills. The article then counters this point with describing the positive effects of alcohol consumption. The article mentions that small doses of alcoholic beverages like wine can help reduce the risk of heart diseases and help prevent the formation of blood clots. The article then concludes with treatment options for alcoholism.
After reading this article I believe that alcohol is a substance that brings more harm than good when it comes to human health. However, I don’t believe that alcohol should be treated as a hazardous substance that should be fought against, because in reality, it isn’t any more evil than fire or water. The main problem is that people are proving to be incapable of controlling their consumption rate of alcohol just like young children are incapable of understanding the dangers of playing with fire. So in my opinion despite all the negative health consequences that alcohol presents, it should still be made as accessible as water and fire is currently.
My question would be, do you believe that alcohol distribution and accessibility needs to be more government controlled. Or, do you think that alcohol products should be made more accessible and trust the population to make their own choices regarding their health?
Citations:
“The Risks and Benefits of Drinking Alcohol.” Product Reviews and Ratings - Consumer Reports, Consumer Reports , June 2010, www.consumerreports.org/cro/2013/01/the-risks-and-benefits-of-drinking-alcohol/index.htm.
“Alcohol (Ethanol) Effects, Hazards & Warnings.” Drugs.com, Drugs.com, 2 Apr. 2018, www.drugs.com/alcohol.htm.
I really liked your reflection on what alcohol (ethanol) is and it's effect on human health. You included the chemical equation which was also interesting. Although I haven't personally consumed alcohol, I can definitely see how small doses can be beneficial but anymore than that can be harmful. Do you think alcohol has any major social benefit? There are also many ethical and legal issues involved with the consumption of alcohol.
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