Making Alcohol and How it Helps in the Economy - Essay Sample

Introduction

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World defines Alcohol as a drug, depressant that works by slowing down the normal functioning of the brain and body after consumption. Even though the use of Alcohol has been associated with many adverse effects on the users and the nation's Economy, the manufacture of this drug has some economic benefits. It means that alcohol making may not be entirely detrimental to the life of people and the Economy of a nation. Using statistical data and evidence, this essay will examine the science and history in the making of Alcohol and how it helps the Economy.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

History of Alcohol

The history of Alcohol dates back in 2000 B.C. Greece prepared their first alcohol beverages of Alcohol intending to gain popularity (Foundation for a Drug-Free World 1). The Greeks make mead drink through the fermentation of honey and water. In Asia, Alcohol was produced in the form of honey wine or Mead in the Vedic Period between 1700-1100 B.C. (Alba-Lois and Segal-Kischinevzky 1). Around 2700 B.C. the Babylonians prepared wine, an alcoholic drink used for worship purposes. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World notes that fermentation of beverages began with the early civilization of Egyptians. Evidence also shows that the old alcoholic drinks were fermented in China about 7000 B.C.

In a country such as India, Alcohol dates back in 3000 and 2000 B.C. when people prepared sura, an alcoholic drink made from rice through distillation (Foundation for a Drug-Free World 1). During the pre-Columbian times, some civilized Native Americans started developing alcoholic beverages through fermentation (Foundation for a Drug-Free World 1). Most of the parts where alcohol beverages were fermented were in South America using apples called "Chicha," grapes or corn (Alba-Lois and Segal-Kischinevzky 1). In North America, the Native Americans made Alcohol from agave and named the beverage Octli, also known as 'Pulque.'

In the 16th century, Alcohol was given the name spirits and highly used for medical purposes. At the start of the 18th century, the distillation of grains to make spirits were encouraged after the British parliament passed a law that supported Alcohol making using grains (Foundation for a Drug-Free World 1). It was the cause of many and cheap spirits made and distributed to consumers which flooded the market in the mid-18th century. Alcohol became widespread during the same time in Britain with the consumption of gin reaching 18 million gallons. The 19th century it has brought about changes in the attitudes towards Alcohol with a law passed in the U.S. to prohibit the making and use of the substance in 1920. However, in the year 1933, alcohol prohibition was canceled. From that time, alcohol making and consumption have continued until today all over the world (Foundation for a Drug-Free World 1).

The Science of Alcohol Making

Alcohol is manufactured through the fermentation process. Grains, fruit juices, as well as honey, are fermented to make Alcohol in the form of a chemical known as ethanol. It is a process that has been used since the beginning of the history of Alcohol. According to Alba-Lois and Segal-Kischinevzky (1), the recipe for making Alcohol in the name of beer or wine is through fermentation. It is a Latin phrase 'fervere' meaning "to boil." When crushed grapes are mixed with water and kept in a vessel, they produce bubbles like those of boiling water. This observation was the source of the name 'fervere' where fermented beverages were left to stand enough time to produce Alcohol. Temperature and air are essential during the fermentation process. The eukaryotic, a one-celled fungus microorganism contained in yeast, is also useful during the fermentation process (Alba-Lois and Segal-Kischinevzky 1).

Sugars are fermented to produce ethanol, which is Alcohol. The only type of Alcohol used in beverages is ethanol, and fermenting sugars make it from grains and fruits. During the chemical process of fermentation, yeast mixed with the sugars works upon the give food ingredients to make Alcohol (Foundation for a Drug-Free World 1). Therefore, simple sugars are the raw materials needed in the making of Alcohol (Alba-Lois and Segal-Kischinevzky 1). The Zymase enzyme produced in yeast works during the fermentation process to change the sugars to the compounds of carbon dioxide ethanol. Since it is a complicated process, other substances such as organic acids and glycerine are produced during the fermentation process. When using starches including corn, potatoes, wheat as well as other plants, ethanol through the fermentation process is created by first breaking the carbohydrates into simple sugars. Barley is a crop that provides the enzyme useful in breaking carbohydrates into sugars during the fermentation process to make ethanol/alcohol at a concentration of 14% (Shakhashiri 2).

How Alcohol Manufacture Has Changed the Economy

Manufacturing Alcohol has positively impacted on the Economy of different countries. In the U.K., alcohol production has contributed to the Economy by creating employment in the beer industry (Institute of Alcohol Studies 1). The alcohol industry in the U.K. creates over 770,000 jobs, and this is about 2.5% of all the employees within the nation (Bhattacharya 14). Those working in alcohol production are well paid when compared to those in the retail trade. The median pay for breweries in the U.K. is PS18.02 per hour. This is an hourly rate that is above the national average and also above the average, PS12.88 given for manufacturing (Bhattacharya 15). For distilleries, they are paid an hourly rate of PS16.31. The excellent remuneration of workers in alcohol production contributes to the growth of the Economy. The performance of the Economy increases with a rise in per capita income for the breweries and distilleries. Improved economic performance of a country is also experienced through alcohol production since governments gain by taxing beer manufacturing. Increased taxes paid by beer production companies' help in making money reinvested in another public spending. In California, tax from beer production and selling creates jobs for 95,000 people, in Texas, it creates 35,000 jobs for the citizens and in New York, 29,000 jobs for the people (Institute of Alcohol Studies 1).

In the U.S., the alcohol industry is contributing to a positive economic impact in the country through the creation of jobs and collecting of yearly tax revenue. There are 4.4 million citizens in America (Four Loko 1). Currently, the beer sector alone creates 2.1 million well-paying jobs for people in the U.S. Including beer production process, and the alcohol industry contributes to 328 billion dollars of tax revenue in America (The Beer Institute 1). There are about 7000 breweries in America, employing brewers and paying them well, which is crucial for the growth of the U.S. economy. The economic benefits of alcohol production through tax revenues to the government are more when compared to other industries such as restaurant among others (Four Loko 1). The collected tax revenues are invested in social service programs as well as public institutions to better the lifestyle of people within the country.

Conclusion

In conclusion, beer making has a lengthy historical background that dates back in 2000 B.C. The fermentation process was established during the early years of alcohol manufacturing. Fermenting sugars is the chemistry or science involved in alcohol production where yeast is included to act upon the food ingredients, breaking them into simple sugars and changing them to ethanol. Based on the given evidence in the discussion, there is statistical data to support that alcohol making has transformed the Economy to the better through the creation of jobs and tax collection. It shows that beer production is improving the economic performance of countries such as the U.K. and America.

Works Cited

Alba-Lois, Lusia, & Segal-Kischinevzky Claudia. "Beer & Wine Makers." Nature Education, vol. 3, No.9, 2010, pp.1-17.Bhattacharya, Aveek. An Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) Report. 2014. http://www.ias.org.uk/uploads/pdf/IAS%20reports/rp26092017.pdf

Foundation for a Drug-Free World. What is Alcohol? The Truth About Alcohol. 2019. https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol.html

Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Alcohol: Short History. 2019. https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol/a-short-history.html

Four Loko. Alcohol Beverage Industry Economic Impact. N.d. https://fourloko.com/alcohol-beverage-economic-impact/

Institute of Alcohol Studies. What is the economic contribution of the alcohol industry? 2017. http://www.ias.org.uk/Alcohol-knowledge-centre/The-alcohol-industry/Factsheets/What-is-the-economic-contribution-of-the-alcohol-industry.aspx

Shakhashiri, Bassam. Ethanol: Chemistry & Physiology of the World's Second-Most Popular Drug. Science is Fun. 2018. scifun.chem.wisc.edu/CHEMWEEK/Ethanol-ChemistryAndPhysiology-2018.pdf

The Beer Institute. New Economic Report: Beer Industry Creates 2 Million Jobs, Contributes $328 Billion to the U.S. Economy. Press Release. 2019. http://www.beerinstitute.org/press-releases/new-economic-report-beer-industry-creates-2-million-jobs-contributes-328-billion-to-u-s-economy/