This article is about beverages containing alcohol. For alcohol-free or non-alcoholic drink, also known as a temperance drink, see Non-alcoholic drink. For alcohol as a psychoactive or recreational substance, see Alcohol (drug). For alcohol and effects on health, see Alcohol and health.
"Adult beverage" redirects here. Not to be confused with Caffeinated drink.
An alcoholic beverage (also called an adult beverage, alcoholic drink, strong drink, or simply a drink) is a drink that contains ethanol, a type of alcohol and is produced by fermentation of grains, fruits, or other sources of sugar.[2] The consumption of alcoholic drinks, often referred to as "drinking", plays an important social role in many cultures. Alcoholic drinks are typically divided into three classes—beers, wines, and spirits—and typically their alcohol content is between 3% and 50%.
Alcohol is one of the most widely used recreational drugs in the world, and about 33% of all humans currently drink alcohol.[6] In 2015, among Americans, 86% of adults had consumed alcohol at some point, with 70% drinking it in the last year and 56% in the last month.[7] Several other animals are affected by alcohol similarly to humans and, once they consume it, will consume it again if given the opportunity, though humans are the only species known to produce alcoholic drinks intentionally.[8]
^Cook, Christopher C. H. (4 May 2006). Alcohol, Addiction and Christian Ethics. Cambridge University Press. p. 95. ISBN978-1-139-45497-1. 'Drunkenness', at least in popular usage, he considered to be equivalent to 'intoxication'. Intoxication in turn, again according to popular usage, was understood as referring to 'the aggravated symptoms of alcoholic poisoning'. While recognising that intemperance was, in fact, 'indicative of sensual indulgence in general', he stated that in 'popular usage' it had gradually become narrowed in meaning to 'indulgence of the appetite for Strong Drink' or 'indulgence in some alcoholic drink'.
^Henry, Yeomans (18 June 2014). Alcohol and Moral Regulation: Public Attitudes, Spirited Measures and Victorian Hangovers. Policy Press. p. 244. ISBN978-1-4473-0994-9.