Introduction

Alcohol is a substance that has played a significant role in the history and lives of societies
around the world. Its presence ranges from ritual and ceremonial contexts to the social and
recreational sphere, however, it is also associated with a series of challenges and public health
problems. This work seeks to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of alcohol,
considering its social, cultural and health dimensions.

Initially, the history of alcohol consumption will be covered, from its ancestral use in religious
rituals and ceremonies to its integration into contemporary social and cultural practices.
Different attitudes towards alcohol consumption over time and in different cultures will be
explored, as well as the traditions associated with its use.

Next, an analysis of the social impacts of alcohol consumption will be carried out, considering
issues such as domestic violence, traffic accidents, crime and family disintegration. The
connections between excessive alcohol consumption and social problems will be examined, as
well as public policies aimed at mitigating such impacts.

Ultimately, this work aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities

associated with alcohol consumption, highlighting the importance of holistic approaches to
addressing the social and health challenges related to this substance.

Alcohol
Alcohol is considered a psychoactive drug with depressive effects on the central nervous
system, causing changes in the behavior of those consumes. As for its origin, alcoholic
beverages can be:

 Fermented Drinks: that they are obtained by alcoholic fermentation of the sugary juice,
by the yeast action;
 Distilled Drinks: that result from the distillation of alcohol produced during the
fermentation. Through an evaporation process (followed by cold condensation) of
fermented drinks, more graduated drinks may be obtained.

Story

Its euphorizing and intoxicity properties are known since the prehistoric times and practically,
all cultures have or have had some experience with their use. The Arabs were the first to
produce distilled alcohol, around the year 800, the technique that Europeans learned and
which made the distillation of wine and the largest alcoholization of drinks has been
widespread in Europe from the 19th century.

Egyptians, Greeks and Romans are example of people who have known and developed the arts
of the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, as well as the effects of their use by man. The
concept of alcoholism as a disease, not only addiction, develops only in the second half of the
nineteenth century.

Alcohol often arranged associated with situations of social relationship, ritual, commemorative,
recreational, beyond being part of the imaginary, lifestyles or even the identities of many social
groups.

Alcohol and driving

Alcohol consumption is directly responsible for a high percentage of deaths by road accidents,
and, in a lesser percentage, of cause of accidents that result inacapities.

Alcohol modifies the ability of discernment, makes reflexes slower, reduces surveillance and
reduces visual acuity, in particular reducing the concentration and the ability to make simple
maneuvers and direction changes, trend to a more risky and higher speed, problems of side
vision, difficulty in distinguish signaling and errors in the appreciation of the distance and
reduction of the assimilation of perceptions.

Effects of alcohol

Psychoactive effects:

Alcohol is based on varied situations of individual disease, being directly responsible, or

predisposed, associating and aggravating diseases such as tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases,
digestive diseases and cancer.

Immediate Effects

The immediate effects of alcohol in the brain may be depressor or stimulating character,
according to the absorbed amount. After its ingestion, alcohol is entirely absorbed by the
digestive tube without suffering preternation digestion, enter directly into the circulatory
system, reaching maximum values up to about an hour and a half, spreading to the whole body.

Alcohol affects cognitive and perceptive capabilities, especially vision and hearing. Reduces the
visual field, reaction capacity, increases motor discoozing and the ability to evaluate the
distances, promotes the trend for the outcards of capacities and, therefore, increases the risk of
accidents.

Despite having an initial stimulating effect, inducing a state of euphoria, disintibility, and often
losing the notion of the danger, in the next phase, the depressive effects begin to become more
notorious, the lack of motor coordination emerging (eg walking to the stagger), drowsiness and
slept of thought (eg difficulty in speaking), decreased reaction capacity, attention and
understanding.

Long-term effects

Chronic consumption leads to changes in various individuals and individual systems:

  Brain:cerebral atrophy and deterioration;
 Blood: anemia, decreased immune defenses;
 Heart:frequent hypertrophies and dilation with heart failure, myocardiopathy, arterial
disorders, fragility of vascular walls and hemorrhages, hypertension;
 Digestive device:Glossites, esophagites, gastrites, of blazing, nep bloodtens, symptom,
hepatopathy (hepatitis, esteatosis, cirrhosis), with acute or chronic pancreatic lesions
(inflammation, deterioration);
 Locomotor appliance:Musculoskeletal disorders;
 Psychic manifestations:Irritability, insomnia, delusions for jealousy, pursuit ideas and
even more serious, encephalopathies with psycho-organic deterioration (alcoholic
dementia)
 Pregnancy:The usual consumption in pregnant woman can originate fetal alcoholic
syndrome, which arises with alcohol intake in the first months of pregnancy,
characterized by global growth delay and morphological anomalies.

Advantages of consumption

Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with some potential health advantages,
although it is important to emphasize that these benefits are observed only at very low
consumption levels and that alcohol is not recommended as a way to improve health. In
addition, health risks associated with alcohol consumption exceed possible advantages.
However, here are some of the potential advantages of moderate alcohol consumption:

1. Possible reduction of risk of heart disease:Studies suggest that light moderate alcohol
consumption may be associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease.
2. Relaxation and SociaBidadand: In social contexts, the light consumption of alcohol can
help people relax and feel more sociable.
3. Possible reduction of the risk of diabetes2:Some studies indicated that moderate
alcohol consumption may be associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

It is important to emphasize that these potential benefits are associated with the moderate
mid-alcohol consumption and that individuals should always consider their own health risk
factors before making choices related to alcohol consumption. In any case, it is essential to
follow the medical recommendations and the specific guidelines for the safe consumption of
alcohol.

Disadvantages of alcohol consumption

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a series of significant disadvantages for health and
well-being. Some of the disadvantages of alcohol consumption include:

1. Dependence and abuse: Excessive and frequent consumption of alcohol can lead to
chemical dependence, resulting in a vicious cycle of uncontrolled consumption.
2. Damage to the liver: The liver is especially susceptible to the harmful effects of alcohol,
and may develop conditions such as hepatic stereos (lifter fat), alcoholic hepatitis and
cirrhosis.
3. Miscal Health Risks: Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of
mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
4. Risks for physical health: In addition to the liver damage, excessive alcohol consumption
may increase the risk of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and damage to
the nervous system.
5. Behavioral risks: Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of
involvement in accidents, violence, reckless behavior and legal problems.
6. Social and family impact: Alcohol abuse may have negative impacts on family and social
relationships, leading to interpersonal conflicts and difficulties at work or school.

It is essential to recognize the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption and seek
help if you or someone you know is facing problems related to alcohol abuse. Awareness of the
negative impacts of excessive alcohol consumption is crucial to promote healthy choices and
reduce public health damage.

Diseases of excessive alcohol consumption

Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a variety of diseases and health conditions,
some of which may have serious and long-lasting effects. Some of the excessive alcohol
consumption diseases include:

1. Hepatic Cirrich: Chronic and excessive alcohol consumption is one of the main causes of
hepatic cirrhosis, a condition where the healthy liver fabric is replaced by scarcical
tissue, seriously damaging the functioning of the organ.
2. Hepatic Stestose(Gorduri Liver): The accumulation of fat in the liver due to excessive
alcohol consumption can lead to the development of hepatic stestosis, which can
progress to more serious conditions.
3. Alcoholic hepatitis:Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to the development of
alcoholic hepatitis, a liver inflammation that can cause significant damage.
4. Pancreatitis: Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a higher risk of
developing pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that can be acute or chronic.
5. Cancer: Excessive alcohol consumption is related to a higher risk of various types of
cancer, including mouth cancer, throat, esophagus, liver, colon and breast.
6. Cardiovascular Diseases: Excessive alcohol consumption may increase the risk of arterial
hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, alcoholic cardiomyopathy and other cardiovascular
problems.

Prevention and treatment of diseases caused by high alcohol consumption

The prevention and treatment of diseases caused by high alcohol consumption are fundamental
to reduce health damage associated with alcohol abuse. Here are some important strategies for
prevention and treatment:

Prevention:

1. Education and awareness:Promote awareness of the risks to the health of excessive

alcohol consumption, providing clear information on the consumption insurance limits
and the negative effects of alcohol abuse.
 2. Public Policies: Implement policies to limit access to alcohol, such as age restrictions,
sales control, advertising regulation and restrictions on availability in public places.
3. Early interventions: Identify and intervene in accordance with problematic alcohol or
abuse of alcohol, offering support, counseling and treatment for individuals at risk.
4. Promotion of responsible consumption: Encourage responsible practices related to
alcohol consumption, such as moderation, alternation with non-alcoholic beverages and
early planning to prevent intoxication.

Treatment:

1. Counseling and therapy: Provide individual or group advice to help people understand
and overcome alcohol abuse.
2. Medication: In some cases, medications can be prescribed to help in the treatment of
alcoholism.
3. Rehabilitation:Rehabilitation programs in specialized clinics can offer intensive support
for those who fight against alcohol addiction.
4. Community support:Develop communities that offer support and resources for
individuals who seek to reduce or interrupt the problematic alcohol consumption.

It is crucial that there are coordinated efforts between health professionals, governments,
community organizations and individuals to implement effective strategy and prevention
strategies. The multidisciplinary approach is essential to deal with the complex challenges
associated with excessive alcohol consumption and diseases related to it.
Conclusion

In the conclusion of this comprehensive study on alcohol, it is possible to observe that this
substance plays complex and multifaceted roles in society, influencing social, cultural and
health aspects. The performed analysis allowed us to understand that alcohol consumption is
intrinsically interlayed with old traditions, social celebrations and cultural expressions, while it
is associated with a series of challenges and problems.

It is clear that alcohol has a significant impacts on social dynamics, correlationed to issues such
as domestic violence, traffic accidents, crime and family disintegration. The understanding of
these connections is critical to the development of effective public policies that aim to mitigate
such impacts and promote a more secure and healthy social environment.

In addition, the review of the impacts of alcohol in human health revealed a range of risks
associated with its excessive consumption, including liver diseases, cardiovascular, cancer and
mental disorders. Awareness of such consequences is crucial for the promotion of healthy
practices and the implementation of prevention and treatment strategies that aim to reduce
the burden of harmful consumption of alcohol in public health.
Bibliographic references

1. Mello,MariaLuciliaMercy,Barros,Joseph,Breda,John.AlcoholandProblemslinkedto
thealcoholinPortugal.DGS,2001.fonte:Sicad
2. NationalInstituteonAlcoholAbuseandAlcoholism(Niaaa):