Alcoholism is defined as dependency on alcohol caused by regular consumption of alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, brandy, whiskey, rum, or gin. An alcoholic is someone who has become a habitual drinker. Alcoholism can be caused by social pressure, a desire for excitement, an attempt to escape problems, developing a taste for alcohol, or a family history of alcoholism. Alcohol is neither a food nor a stimulant, as it provides no nutritional value and reduces the body's efficiency. Alcoholism has many negative health effects such as liver damage, heart problems, impaired judgment and motor skills, and increased risk of disease. It also harms families financially and emotionally, and increases social problems like crime. Drinking alcohol

1. ALCHOHOLISM
Definition:
Regular consumption of alcohol either in low Concentration (beer, wine etc ) or in high
Concentration (beer, wine etc)or in high concentration(brandy ,whiskey ,rum, gin etc,)
Causes dependency own alcohol which is called alcoholism. The person who has become
a habitual drinker is called an alcoholic.
Reasons for drinking alcohol:
-Social pressure
-Desire for excitement.
-Desire to escape from disappointments, failures, and frustation.
-Linking of Taste.
-Desire to overcome the hardships of daily life.
-Family's history
Alcohol is neither a food not a stimulant:
Food is that material, which acts as a fuel and provides energy for metabolic activities,
provides material for growth and repair of body tissues, and enables the body to resist the
disease.
Alcohol is simple organic compound, which needs no digestion. It is rapidly absorbed
from the stomach and upper part of intestine into blood and immediately transported to
body cells .In body cells ,it is immediately oxidized to produce large amount of heat
which has no relation with the every need of the body so cannot be used in metabolism
.To avoid the uncontrolled increase in body temperature , the body's energy is used to
expel this extra heat . To expel extra heat blood transportation to the skin is increased so
blood supply to interval organ is greatly reduced causing decrease in temperature in
them . So alcohol cannot be considered as a food. Alcohol acts as a sedative (decreases
functional efficiency), depressant ) lowers the activities of CNS) and anesthetic(causes
lost of sensation)agent. As the alcohol reduces the efficiency of every system of the body
so alcohol isn't considered as a stimulant.
Ill Effects of Alcohol:
Alcohol has a number of ill effect on an individual ,on the family and on
the family and on the society.
Ill Effects of Alcohol on an individuals:
Alcohol causes intoxication in high doses so acts as a poison. Though alcohol has
ill effects on all the body organ, certain organ are affected more than others eg:
a) On Nervous system:Alchohal has an anesthetic effect on the nervous system and first
affects cerebrum followed by cerebellum and other parts. Following are the effects-i)
Loss of judgment, will power and self control.
ii) Loss of emotional control so shows either foolish laughter or sadness and
weeping.
iii) Loss of moral sense so shows antisocial behavior .

2. iv) Visual problems like blurred vision ,double vision and improper judgment
of distance.
v) Due to ill effects on cerebellum, muscles coordination isn't proper so
alcoholic shows staggering gait and incoherent speech.
vi) Inflammation of axons of Heurons leading to neuritis.
b) On Stomach: A large dose of high concentration alcohol causes increased
secretion of gastric juices which cause inflammation of gastric mucosa leading to
gastritis.
c) On Liver : Inside the liver alcohol is changed into more toxic compound
acetaldehyde which provides energy to synthesize pats from alcohol. So liver becomes
the storehouse of pats, which leads to a patty acid syndrome. Liver becomes hard and dry,
and liver cells are replaced by fibrous tissues .This is called cirrhosis. So this the
glycogen and protein synthetic activities of liver are greatly reduced.
d) On Heart: Alcohol stimulates the deposition of alcoholic fats on the walls of the
blood vessels, which become rigid and brittle. This increases the blood pressure and
adversely affects the working of the heart.
e) On Kidneys: In an alcoholic, the urine becomes hyper osmotic which interferes the
normal functioning of nephrous of the kidneys. If is so as large amount of water is
expelled out through skin.
f) Alcohol also decreases glucose level in the blood .
g) Alcoholic generally suffers from malnutrition so becomes more susceptible to diseases
like pneumonia.
An alcoholic is a sick person and requires the attention of An alcoholic is a sick
person and requires the attention of the family members and the friends to get rid off of
alcohol.
Ill effects of Alcohol on Family:
a) As alcoholic spends huge money on costly alcohol which leads to deficiency of
basic needs and malnutrition of his family members.
b) The children of an alcoholic suffer from anxiety, frustration& insecurity.
c) Alcoholism also leads to domestic problems like divorces etc.
Ill Effects of Alcohol on Community:
Alcoholisms breeds Social crime like corruption, illegal distillation and a swale
of illicit liquor etc. Alcoholism also increases the chances of road and industrial
accidents.
Drinking and Driving:
Alcohol adversely affects the drivers in following ways:
a) Alcohol impairs the correct judgment for the distance.
b) It reduces coordination of limb-Muscles.
c) It reduces the alertness of the driver, so he becomes less watchful.
d) It causes blurred and funnel visions.
e) It shows the responses to unexpected situations.
f) Intoxicated drivers become rash, careless &erratic.
So above facts indicates alcoholism not only puts the life of the driver in danger but
also of many innocents people. So alcohol drinking and driving should not go together.