Alcohol, the cause of and Alcohol, the cause of and solution to so many of life’s solution to so many of life’s

problems problems

Psychology 3506Psychology 3506

IntroductionIntroduction

Most alcohols are not consumedMost alcohols are not consumed Isopropyl alcoholIsopropyl alcohol Methyl alcoholMethyl alcohol The stuff we drink is ethyl alcohol or The stuff we drink is ethyl alcohol or

ethanolethanol People have been making and People have been making and

drinking alcohol for a LONG timedrinking alcohol for a LONG time

The MesopotamiansThe Mesopotamians

Had a goddess of Had a goddess of brewing!brewing!

Oldest beer recipeOldest beer recipe Seems they started Seems they started

civilization so they civilization so they could have a cold one!could have a cold one!

Borne of the flowing water,Tenderly cared for by the Ninhursag,Borne of the flowing water,Tenderly cared for by the Ninhursag,

Having founded your town by the sacred lake,She finished its great walls for you,Ninkasi, having founded your town by the sacred lake,She finished it's walls for you,

Your father is Enki, Lord Nidimmud,Your mother is Ninti, the queen of the sacred lake.Ninkasi, your father is Enki, Lord Nidimmud,Your mother is Ninti, the queen of the sacred lake.

You are the one who handles the dough [and] with a big shovel,Mixing in a pit, the bappir with sweet aromatics,Ninkasi, you are the one who handles the dough [and] with a big shovel,Mixing in a pit, the bappir with [date] - honey,

You are the one who bakes the bappir in the big oven,Puts in order the piles of hulled grains,Ninkasi, you are the one who bakes the bappir in the big oven,Puts in order the piles of hulled grains,

You are the one who waters the malt set on the ground,The noble dogs keep away even the potentates,Ninkasi, you are the one who waters the malt set on the ground,The noble dogs keep away even the potentates,

You are the one who soaks the malt in a jar,The waves rise, the waves fall.Ninkasi, you are the one who soaks the malt in a jar,The waves rise, the waves fall.

You are the one who spreads the cooked mash on large reed mats,Coolness overcomes,Ninkasi, you are the one who spreads the cooked mash on large reed mats,Coolness overcomes,

You are the one who holds with both hands the great sweet wort,Brewing [it] with honey [and] wine(You the sweet wort to the vessel)Ninkasi, (...)(You the sweet wort to the vessel)

The filtering vat, which makes a pleasant sound,You place appropriately on a large collector vat.Ninkasi, the filtering vat, which makes a pleasant sound,You place appropriately on a large collector vat.

When you pour out the filtered beer of the collector vat,It is [like] the onrush of Tigris and Euphrates.Ninkasi, you are the one who pours out the filtered beer of the collector vat,It is [like] the onrush of Tigris and Euphrates.

FermentationFermentation

You start with sugar, which you can You start with sugar, which you can get from many sourcesget from many sources• FruitFruit• VegetablesVegetables• Grain (malted and unmalted)Grain (malted and unmalted)

Malted grainMalted grain• Wet grain, allow to sproutWet grain, allow to sprout• SugarsSugars• drydry

FermentationFermentation

You can malt most any grain, barley, You can malt most any grain, barley, rye, wheat etcrye, wheat etc

Start a mashStart a mash DON’T BOILDON’T BOIL Mash is spargedMash is sparged Wort is boiledWort is boiled Add yeast or bacteriaAdd yeast or bacteria

FermentationFermentation

Ale yeastAle yeast• Saccharomyces cervisisiaeSaccharomyces cervisisiae• Top fermenting Top fermenting • WarmerWarmer

Lager yeastLager yeast• S. uvarum (carlsbergensis)S. uvarum (carlsbergensis)• Bottom fermented Bottom fermented • ColderColder• cleanercleaner

FermentationFermentation

Bacteria can be used for specialty Bacteria can be used for specialty brewsbrews

Brettanmyces bruxellensis and B. Brettanmyces bruxellensis and B. lambicuslambicus

Originally airborne yeasts were usedOriginally airborne yeasts were used Now pure culturesNow pure cultures

DistillationDistillation

Alcohol boils at 78CAlcohol boils at 78C Water boils at 100CWater boils at 100C So, boil it, collect the vapour and So, boil it, collect the vapour and

enjoyenjoy Or freezeOr freeze Both of these are illegal BTW…Both of these are illegal BTW…

Measurement of alcohol in the bodyMeasurement of alcohol in the body

Blood Alcohol Level (BAL)Blood Alcohol Level (BAL)• mg / 100 ml of bloodmg / 100 ml of blood• Or percentageOr percentage

mmol / litremmol / litre• Not as common in popular parlance, but Not as common in popular parlance, but

more common in scientific literaturemore common in scientific literature

Route of AdministrationRoute of Administration

AbsorptionAbsorption• When faster than When faster than

excretionexcretion PlateauPlateau Note that the Note that the

alcohol is excreted alcohol is excreted at a constant rate, at a constant rate, unlike other drugsunlike other drugs

AbsorptionAbsorption

Most absorption takes place in your gutMost absorption takes place in your gut Alcohol cannot be ionized, so Ph does not Alcohol cannot be ionized, so Ph does not

affect absorptionaffect absorption First pass metabolism in stomachFirst pass metabolism in stomach

• Alcohol dehydrogenaseAlcohol dehydrogenase• Women have less than menWomen have less than men• Abstainers have moreAbstainers have more• Beer stays in stomach longerBeer stays in stomach longer• Bubbles make it fasterBubbles make it faster• High concentration make it fasterHigh concentration make it faster

DistributionDistribution

Alcohol does not dissolve in fat, so Alcohol does not dissolve in fat, so more percentage of body fat, the more percentage of body fat, the higher the peak BALhigher the peak BAL

In males, higher BAL with ageIn males, higher BAL with age Circulates through lungs, so you can Circulates through lungs, so you can

smell it on your breathsmell it on your breath

ExcretionExcretion

Mostly metabolized by the liverMostly metabolized by the liver Alcohol dehydrogenase converts it to Alcohol dehydrogenase converts it to

acetaldehydeacetaldehyde Next it is converted into acetyl coenzyme Next it is converted into acetyl coenzyme

AA Also there is the microsomal ethanol Also there is the microsomal ethanol

oxidizing system.oxidizing system.• Works harder with more in systemWorks harder with more in system• Disabled by continued heavy drinkingDisabled by continued heavy drinking• Also used in barbiturate metabolism!Also used in barbiturate metabolism!

NeuropharmacologyNeuropharmacology

Still not that well understoodStill not that well understood Depresses function of ion channel in Depresses function of ion channel in

glutamate receptors glutamate receptors After chronic use the brain sort of After chronic use the brain sort of

adjustsadjusts Might be the cause of withdrawal Might be the cause of withdrawal

symptomssymptoms RO 15-4513 seems to be an alcohol RO 15-4513 seems to be an alcohol

antagonistantagonist

EffectsEffects

Dilation of blood vesselsDilation of blood vessels Loss of heatLoss of heat REM decreasesREM decreases More talkative, higher pitch, louderMore talkative, higher pitch, louder During absorption, euphoriaDuring absorption, euphoria During excretion, lethargyDuring excretion, lethargy Decrease in visual acuityDecrease in visual acuity Memory effectsMemory effects BlackoutsBlackouts

Give me my keys, I drive better Give me my keys, I drive better when I am drunkwhen I am drunk

Reaction timeReaction time Perceptual effectsPerceptual effects Memory problemsMemory problems SteadinessSteadiness Effects last longer Effects last longer

than just when than just when alcohol is in the alcohol is in the system!system!

Worse for young Worse for young driversdrivers

DisinhibitionDisinhibition

Seems to weaken cortical -> motor Seems to weaken cortical -> motor connectionsconnections

Hard to stopHard to stop In vino veritasIn vino veritas Worst day for spousal abuse in the Worst day for spousal abuse in the

USA is Super Bowl SundayUSA is Super Bowl Sunday

Tolerance and WithdrawalTolerance and Withdrawal

Acute and chronic toleranceAcute and chronic tolerance MEOS MEOS Behavioural toleranceBehavioural tolerance Minor withdrawal (like a hangover)Minor withdrawal (like a hangover) Major withdrwalMajor withdrwal

• 12 hr later12 hr later• DTsDTs

Self administrationSelf administration

Rats will self administer, if their Rats will self administer, if their mother did (Honey, 1998)mother did (Honey, 1998)

Cultural effectsCultural effects Age effectsAge effects Sex effectsSex effects Consumption is affected by price, Consumption is affected by price,

availabilityavailability

AlcoholismAlcoholism

Disease modelDisease model• JellinekJellinek• Physical dependencePhysical dependence• ToleranceTolerance• Loss of controlLoss of control• FHPFHP

Subtle differencesSubtle differences

Bad StuffBad Stuff

Alcohol poisoningAlcohol poisoning HangoverHangover Bad behaviourBad behaviour SexSex LiverLiver Korsakoff’s syndromeKorsakoff’s syndrome FAS / FAEFAS / FAE CancerCancer

Good stuff!Good stuff!

Heart disease!Heart disease! Originally thought it was just the Originally thought it was just the

tannins in red winetannins in red wine Then beerThen beer Now hard stuffNow hard stuff A couple of drinks a day is good for A couple of drinks a day is good for

youyou

TreatmentsTreatments

AAAA AntidepressantsAntidepressants Behaviour therapyBehaviour therapy Cold turkeyCold turkey