Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. The ethyl alcohol, C2H5OH, contained in alcohol-containing beverages enters the bloodstream as it is absorbed through the stomach and, most efficiently, the intestines. The effects are immediate as the bloodstream becomes dilute with the ethyl alcohol and that blood travels to the brain and spinal cord.
Ethyl alcohol seems to bind to neurons' receptors for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that causes the neuron to stop firing, an important function in the reduction of anxiety. …
