Alcohol

What is it?

The alcohol that is consumed at bars or parties (ethyl alcohol, or ethanol) is created by fermentation, a process in which the yeast fungus feeds on the sugars and/or starches in certain plants such as barley or grapes and excretes alcohol along with carbon dioxide (CO2).

From the cheapest beer to the most expensive wine or after dinner liqueur, all alcohol is made with the same fermentation process. The different colors, tastes, potencies and flavors come from the different fruits or vegetables used as well as the additives, by-products and diluting substances of the fermentation process.