Say Why To Drugs - does alcohol put our health on the rocks?

In this series, I'll be investigating different drugs, busting some myths and explaining potential harms and benefits. This week I'm raising a glass to alcohol

When we talk about alcohol as a recreational drug we really mean ethanol, a particular type of alcohol that is produced when sugar is fermented by yeast. Alcoholic drinks are usually made from fermented fruits or grains, and usually fall in to three categories: beers, wines, and spirits. Alcoholic drinks have a long history of use in the UK, and are very much ingrained in UK culture. Ale was extremely popular in the Middle Ages, though it was much weaker, and consumed daily in large quantities.