Alcohol and Its Health Effects

Alcohol and Its Health Effects Quiz Crafted by-

Dr. Deepika Bhandari

Assistant Director, Directorate of Forensics Services, Himachal Pradesh

Introduction to Alcohol and Its Health Effects

Alcohol (ethanol) is man's favorite recreational drug and the psychoactive substance most often encountered in forensic toxicology casework; impaired driving cases, sexual assaults, and drug intoxication deaths. Because of the legal consequences of a person's blood– or breath–alcohol concentration (BAC or BrAC), the analytical methods used must be accurate, precise, and fit for purpose. The gold standard method for the determination of ethanol in blood and other biological specimens is gas-liquid chromatography with a flame ionization detector, although some laboratories also use a mass spectrometric detector. Also widely used for legal purposes are breath–alcohol analyzers; at the roadside as screening tests and also as evidence for the prosecution of traffic offenders. Evidential instruments determine ethanol in exhaled breath by infrared spectrometry at wavelengths of 3.4 and/or9.5 m or by electrochemical oxidation with a fuel-cell detector. The impairment of body functions after drinking alcohol depends on the amount consumed (the dose), the speed of drinking, and the BAC reaching the brain. After drinking1–2 units of alcohol (~16 g ethanol) people become more talkative and feel less inhibited (BAC <50 mg%). Cognitive and psychomotor functions are impaired as BAC reaches 80 mg% and at 150 mg% the signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication are much more obvious including slurred speech, lack of coordination, confusion, and combativeness. On reaching BACs of 300–400 mg% most people are incapacitated and/or unconscious with slow and shallow breathing and at risk of death from paralysis of respiratory centers in the brain stem

Let's look at the questions and their answers:

Ques 1. What is the most common legal BAC limit in India, after which it is illegal to drive?

a) 0.0%

b) 0.01%

c) 0.08%

d) 0.03%

Answer - d) 0.03%

Ques 2. How long does it take to have enough alcohol in your blood to measure?

a)5 minutes                                                      

b) 30 minutes

c) 45 minutes                                     

d) One hour

Answer - b) 30 minutes

Ques 3. There are many types of alcohol. Intoxication as we know it is caused by…

a)Methanol                                                      

b) Ethanol

c) Ethylene Glycol                                                        

d) Isopropanol

Answer - b) Ethanol

Ques 4. What are the metabolites of ethanol?

a) Acetaldehyde                                                     

b) Acetic acid

c) Both A and B                                                    

d) Neither A nor B

Answer - c) Both A and B 

Ques 5. Which is the best preservative for blood in case of BAC?

a) EDTA                                                 

b) Sodium citrate

c) Sodium fluoride                                                        

d) Potassium oxalate

Answer - c) Sodium fluoride 

Ques 6. Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is affected by:

a) Gender                                                    

b) Weight

c) Height                                            

d) All of the above

Answer - d) All of the above 

Ques 7. Alcohol is measured in

a) Percentage                                                  

b) Degree

c) Proof                                            

d) All of the above

Answer - c) Proof

Ques 8. Which detector is used in Headspace- GC for analyzing BAC? 

a) Flame Ionization Detector (FID)                                                  

b) Thermal Conductivity Detector (TCD)

c) Electron Capture Detector (ECD)                                                 

d) Flame Thermionic Detector (FTD)

Answer - a) Flame Ionization Detector (FID) 

Ques 9. Which of the following is not used as a carrier gas in GC?

a) Helium                                                  

b) Argon

c) Nitrogen                                                  

d) Oxygen

Answer - d) Oxygen

Ques 10. Which of the following has highest ethanol content?

a) Denatured alcohol

b) Rubbing alcohol

c) Paint stripper                                                        

d) Glass cleaner

Answer - a) Denatured alcohol

Ques 11. Which of the following beverage has least ethanol content?

a) Vodka

b) Wine

c) Tequila                                                        

d) Gin

Answer - b) Wine

Ques 12. Blood alcohol level vary depending on the

a) Amount consumed

b) Time elapsed since consumption                                                

c) Metabolic rate 

d) All of the above                        

Answer - d) All of the above

Ques 13. Which is the best preservative for urine in case of alcohol

a) No preservative 

b) Boric acid                                              

c) Acetic acid

d) Oxalic acid 

Answer - a) No preservative     

Ques 14. What is the elimination rate of ethanol for alcoholic drinkers?

a) 12+/-4mg/dL per hour                                              

b) 15+/-4mg/dL per hour

c) 30+/-9mg/dL per hour                                                        

d) 28mg/dL per hour

Answer - c) 30+/-9mg/dL per hour

Ques 15. Which alcohol is the cause of death in case of Hooch Tragedy?

a) Methanol                                                    

b) Ethanol

c) n-propanol                                                        

d) Isopropanol

Answer - a) Methanol