Alcoholic beverages include wines and beers. Wines are most commonly fermented from the sugars in grapes. The alcohol in these beverages is a chemical called ethyl alcohol, or ethanol. The physical affects of drinking alcohol range from loss of coordination, vision, balance, and speech. These affects usually wear off in a matter of hours after a person stops drinking. Because of alcohol's effects on the body and on behavior, governments often regulate its use to prevent accidents on the road.

Every year in B.C.

• 200 people are killed in drinking driving accidents
• 6000 people are injured by drinking drivers
  

Consult with parents to find out the alcohol content of some alcoholic substances. Bring
your finding to class for discussion.

DEMO with class participation

1. Set up the demonstration with two 50 mL beakers. One of the beakers will be the reference.
2. Add 30 mL of water to each beaker. Dissolve a small amount of potassium dichromate, K₂Cr₂O₇, in each beaker. Stir until the solid is dissolved.
3. To each beaker, add a few drops of sulfuric acid. This creates the acidic environment needed for the chemical reaction.
3. To one of the beakers, add alcohol. Watch what happens to the potassium dichromate when alcohol is present. Compare the colour observed in this beaker to the reference beaker.

Demonstrate this quantity:

• 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 mL of blood

1. List the alcoholic substances in order increasing alcohol content.

2. Explain how the breathalyzer works to an adult.

Adult signature:____________________