Skip to main content
Alcohol and the human body: general facts Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) - a substance that is contained in alcoholic (alcoholic) drinks and is the cause of most of the harm from their use, regardless of which alcoholic beverages ethanol enters the body: wine, beer, spirits or other alcoholic products. Unfortunately, other toxic substances that may smell but are not ethanol can be added to adulterated drinks that are produced by illegal or artisanal methods; or they may be present in alcoholic products not intended for ingestion, such as hand sanitizers. Exposure to additives such as methanol (methyl alcohol) is fatal to humans even in small amounts or can lead to blindness and kidney failure, among other effects. According to media reports, as well as information from private sources, in some countries during the COVID-19 outbreak, there have already been deaths due to the use of alcohol-based products based on the unfounded belief that they can provide protection against the virus.