!ALCOHOL ALCOHOL is the name given to the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other such drinks. The term is used for a liquid of a kind, a distilled or rectified spirit, only after mid 17th century, however, in early usage it denoted powders, specifically kohl, especially those obtained by sublimation, for which Arabic term is al-kuhl, and to which alcohol owes its name. It is alternatively known by the names - ethanol and ethyl alcohol. Its chemical formula is C₂H₅OH. It is a colourless volatile flammable liquid. It is the intoxicating principle of all spirituous liquors, but is also used as an industrial solvent or as fuel. A pure or highly rectified spirit or alcohol is obtained from fermented saccharine solutions by distillation. In chemistry, any such organic compound is called alcohol whose molecule contains one or more hydroxyl groups attached to a carbon atom. In many parts of the world, drinking alcoholic beverages is a common feature of social gatherings. Nevertheless, the consumption of alcohol carries a risk of adverse health and social consequences related to its intoxicating, toxic and dependence-producing properties. In addition to the chronic diseases that may develop in those who drink large amounts of alcohol over a number of years, alcohol use is also associated with an increased risk of acute health conditions, such as injuries, including from traffic accidents.