Dr. Sarah Wakeman

Yes. I mean, the way alcohol that we drink... happens is through a process called fermentation. So something that has sugar like grape juice or you think about beer, barley or potatoes or other often starches are fermented. And in that transformation process, they form an alcohol molecule that then has a different effect on our body. Alcohol's found in all sorts of different things.

Yes. I mean, the way alcohol that we drink... happens is through a process called fermentation. So something that has sugar like grape juice or you think about beer, barley or potatoes or other often starches are fermented. And in that transformation process, they form an alcohol molecule that then has a different effect on our body. Alcohol's found in all sorts of different things.

Yes. I mean, the way alcohol that we drink... happens is through a process called fermentation. So something that has sugar like grape juice or you think about beer, barley or potatoes or other often starches are fermented. And in that transformation process, they form an alcohol molecule that then has a different effect on our body. Alcohol's found in all sorts of different things.

So obviously it's intentionally made through fermentation to ingest, but we also use it in cleaning products or like rubbing alcohol or mouthwash, hand sanitizer. So there are alcohols all around us and used for many different things. Huh.

So obviously it's intentionally made through fermentation to ingest, but we also use it in cleaning products or like rubbing alcohol or mouthwash, hand sanitizer. So there are alcohols all around us and used for many different things. Huh.

So obviously it's intentionally made through fermentation to ingest, but we also use it in cleaning products or like rubbing alcohol or mouthwash, hand sanitizer. So there are alcohols all around us and used for many different things. Huh.

It is. And in fact, some of my patients with the most severe forms of alcohol use disorder will drink hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol or mouthwash if they can't get regular alcohol, which tells you really the power of addiction once someone gets to that level of severity. But it's the same molecule with the same effect.

It is. And in fact, some of my patients with the most severe forms of alcohol use disorder will drink hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol or mouthwash if they can't get regular alcohol, which tells you really the power of addiction once someone gets to that level of severity. But it's the same molecule with the same effect.

It is. And in fact, some of my patients with the most severe forms of alcohol use disorder will drink hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol or mouthwash if they can't get regular alcohol, which tells you really the power of addiction once someone gets to that level of severity. But it's the same molecule with the same effect.

Exactly. The actual alcohol molecule that we think of in a fancy cosmopolitan is not different from what's in rubbing alcohol, let's say. I never knew that.

Exactly. The actual alcohol molecule that we think of in a fancy cosmopolitan is not different from what's in rubbing alcohol, let's say. I never knew that.

Exactly. The actual alcohol molecule that we think of in a fancy cosmopolitan is not different from what's in rubbing alcohol, let's say. I never knew that.

Absolutely. I mean, that it is so socialized and a part of culture and a part of celebrations and events that I think it just feels like a part of life.

Absolutely. I mean, that it is so socialized and a part of culture and a part of celebrations and events that I think it just feels like a part of life.

Absolutely. I mean, that it is so socialized and a part of culture and a part of celebrations and events that I think it just feels like a part of life.

Yeah. So this is probably the most fascinating area of research where things have changed and gone back and forth over many decades of science. And it's actually a somewhat tricky question to answer, which is why I think there have been very confusing sometimes and conflicting studies about this.

Yeah. So this is probably the most fascinating area of research where things have changed and gone back and forth over many decades of science. And it's actually a somewhat tricky question to answer, which is why I think there have been very confusing sometimes and conflicting studies about this.

Yeah. So this is probably the most fascinating area of research where things have changed and gone back and forth over many decades of science. And it's actually a somewhat tricky question to answer, which is why I think there have been very confusing sometimes and conflicting studies about this.

So if you want to try to understand what is the impact of low risk drinking, moderate drinking, higher risk drinking, you have to figure out how do you study that. So you need to follow population over time to see what happens. And then you need to figure out how do we isolate the effect of alcohol.

So if you want to try to understand what is the impact of low risk drinking, moderate drinking, higher risk drinking, you have to figure out how do you study that. So you need to follow population over time to see what happens. And then you need to figure out how do we isolate the effect of alcohol.