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Alcohol is the oldest drug that is used in Western countries.
For thousands of years, people have made alcoholic beverages.
These beverages are made by allowing a process called fermentation to occur.
Alcoholic fermentation happens when yeasts or bacteria break down the sugars that occur in some liquids, and convert some of those sugars into alcohol.
Many liquids, such as fruit juices, can ferment.
Thousands of years ago, alcoholic drinks were common in the Middle East. However, the Islamic religion forbids alcohol, so very little alcohol is consumed in this part of the world.
In European countries, and in other parts of the world, many different kinds of alcoholic beverages are produced and consumed.
In warmer areas of Europe, people make wine by allowing grape juice to ferment.
In cooler areas of Europe, people make beer by fermenting liquids made from water and various grains.
The process of fermentation is also used to make stronger drinks known as “spirits.”
These drinks include vodka, whiskey, and rum.
The techniques for making good wine, beer, and spirits have been developed over hundreds of years, and require scientific precision.
Some people have developed a great appreciation for well-made wine, beer, or spirits, and have become experts about the many different varieties of these beverages.
Many people appreciate the taste of alcoholic beverages, but many also enjoy the feelings that alcohol causes.
Alcohol belongs to a category of drugs called “depressants” because it “depresses” the central nervous system, causing a person to feel less inhibited or restrained.
Many people enjoy this feeling, but when a person drinks a lot of alcohol, he or she loses co-ordination, balance, and judgment.
Speech may become unclear, and the person may speak too much. Some people become aggressive or depressed.
When a person is under the influence of alcohol, the person is said to be drunk.
One of the problems that can result from alcohol consumption is known as “drunk driving.”
Some people try to drive a car after having consumed alcohol, but this is extremely dangerous.
Each year, thousands of people are killed by drunk drivers who lose control of their cars.
In recent years, attempts have been made to reduce this problem, by public education campaigns and by strict laws and punishments.
If you drink, don’t drive!
Another problem associated with alcohol is addiction, known as alcoholism.
Some people drink so frequently that they develop a physiological addiction to alcohol.
This problem can have terrible consequences for a person’s health, personal relationships, and career.
Alcoholic beverages are firmly a part of Western culture, and of many other cultures also.
On the one hand, drinks provide many people with much enjoyment and appreciation.
On the other hand, alcohol is a drug that can be abused, leading to accidents and addiction.
酒精是西方国家使用的最古老的药物。数千年来，人们一直在酿造酒精饮料。这些饮料是通过允许一个称为发酵的过程发生的。当酵母或细菌分解某些液体中存在的糖，并将其中一些糖转化为酒精时，就会发生酒精发酵。许多液体，如果汁，都可以发酵。几千年前，酒精饮料在中东很常见。然而，伊斯兰教禁止饮酒，因此在世界这一地区饮用的酒精非常少。在欧洲国家和世界其他地区，生产和消费许多不同种类的酒精饮料。在欧洲较温暖的地区，人们通过发酵葡萄汁来酿造葡萄酒。在欧洲较凉爽的地区，人们通过发酵由水和各种谷物制成的液体来酿造啤酒。发酵过程也用于制造被称为“烈酒”的更烈性饮料。这些饮料包括伏特加、威士忌和朗姆酒。酿造优质葡萄酒、啤酒和烈酒的技术已经发展了数百年，并且需要科学的精确性。有些人对制作精良的葡萄酒、啤酒或烈酒产生了极大的鉴赏力，并且已经成为这些饮料的许多不同品种的专家。许多人欣赏酒精饮料的味道，但也有许多人喜欢酒精引起的感觉。酒精属于一类称为“镇静剂”的药物，因为它“抑制”中枢神经系统，使人感觉不那么受抑制或约束。许多人喜欢这种感觉，但是当一个人喝大量酒精时，他或她会失去协调性、平衡性和判断力。言语可能会变得不清楚，并且该人可能会说得太多。有些人变得具有攻击性或沮丧。当一个人受到酒精的影响时，据说该人喝醉了。饮酒可能导致的问题之一被称为“酒后驾车”。有些人试图在饮酒后开车，但这非常危险。每年，成千上万的人被酒后驾车失控的司机杀死。近年来，已经尝试通过公共教育活动和严格的法律和惩罚来减少这个问题。如果你喝酒，不要开车！与酒精相关的另一个问题是成瘾，称为酒精中毒。有些人经常喝酒，以至于他们对酒精产生生理上的依赖性。这个问题可能会对一个人的健康、人际关系和事业产生可怕的后果。酒精饮料是西方文化以及许多其他文化的重要组成部分。一方面，饮料为许多人提供了许多乐趣和欣赏。另一方面，酒精是一种可能被滥用的药物，导致事故和成瘾。