Even in ancient centuries, people learned to produce a variety of alcoholic beverages. The list of items includes a huge number of species and varieties. They differ mainly in the raw materials from which they were prepared.

List of low alcohol alcoholic beverages

. Beer  - low alcohol drink, obtained by fermenting hops, malt wort and brewer's yeast. The alcohol content in it is 3-12%

. Champagne  - Sparkling wine obtained by secondary fermentation. Contains alcohol 9-20%.

. Wine  - an alcoholic beverage obtained by fermentation of yeast and grape juice of various varieties, the names of which, as a rule, are present in the name. Alcohol content - 9-20%.

. Vermouth  - fortified wine, flavored with spicy and medicinal plants, the main component - wormwood. Fortified wines contain 16-18% alcohol.

. Sake  - Japanese traditional alcoholic drink. Obtained by fermentation of rice, rice malt and water. The strength of this drink is 14.5-20% by volume.

Strong Spirits

. Tequila. Traditional Mexican product is obtained from the juice extracted from the core of blue agave. "Silver" and "Golden" tequila - especially common alcoholic beverages. The list can be continued by such names as "Sauza", "Jose Cuervo" or "Sierra". The best in taste is considered a drink with an aging of 4-5 years. The alcohol content is 38-40%.

. Sambuca. Strong Italian liqueur based on alcohol and essential oil obtained from anise. White, black and red sambuka are in the greatest demand. Fortress - 38-42%.

. Liqueurs. Strong sweet alcoholic drinks. The list can be divided into 2 categories: cream liqueurs (20-35%), dessert (25-30%) and strong (35-45%).

. Cognac. Strong alcoholic drink based on brandy alcohol obtained by distilling wine. Distillation takes place in special copper cubes, the product is subject to subsequent aging in oak barrels for at least two years. After diluting the alcohol with distilled water, it acquires a strength of 42-45%.

. Vodka. Treats strong drinks with the content of alcohol of 35-50%. It is a mixture of water and alcohol, which is made from natural products by fermentation and subsequent distillation. Most popular drinks: vodka "Absolute", "Wheat", "Stolichnaya".

. Brandy. Alcoholic beverage made from fermented grape juice by distillation. The alcohol content in it is 30-50%.

. Gin. Strong alcoholic drink with a unique taste, obtained by distilling wheat alcohol and juniper. To enhance the taste, it may contain natural additives: lemon or orange peel, anise, cinnamon, coriander. The strength of gin is 37.5-50%.

. Whiskey. A strong drink, which is made by fermentation, distillation and aging of cereals (barley, corn, wheat, etc.). Aged in oak barrels. Contains alcohol in the amount of 40-50%.

. Rum. One of the strongest alcoholic beverages. It is made on the basis of alcohol aged in barrels for at least 5 years, due to which it acquires a brown color and a burning taste. The strength of the Roma varies from 40 to 70%.

. Absinthe. Very strong drink with an alcohol content of 70 to 85%. It is based on alcohol, wormwood extract and a set of herbs such as anise, mint, licorice, sweet flag, and some others.

Here are the main alcoholic beverages. This list is not final, it can be continued with other names. However, they will all be derived from the basic composition.

Types of Spirits

All beverages containing ethanol in different quantities, also known as alcohol, are called alcoholic beverages. Basically they are divided into three classes:

3. Strong alcoholic beverages.

Bread kvass. Depending on the method of manufacture may contain from 0.5 to 1.5% alcohol. Prepared on the basis of malt (barley or rye), flour, sugar, water, has a refreshing taste and bread aroma.

Actually beer. It is made of almost the same components as kvass, but with the addition of hops and yeast. Regular beer contains 3.7-4.5% alcohol, but there is still strong, where this percentage rises to 7-9 units.

Kumys, airan, bilk.  Drinks on the basis of fermented milk. May contain up to 4.5% alcohol.

Energy Alcoholic Drinks. They contain in their composition tonic substances: caffeine, guarana extract, cocoa alkaloids, etc. The alcohol content in them ranges from 7-8%.

Second category

Natural Grape Wines. Depending on the sugar content and the variety of the main raw materials, they are divided into dry, semi-dry, sweet and semi-sweet, as well as white and red. The names of the wines also depend on the grape varieties used: Riesling, Rkatsiteli, Isabella and others.

Natural fruit and berry wines. They can be made from various berries and fruits and are also classified by their sugar content and color.

Special varieties

These include madera, Vermouth, Port, Sherry, Cahors, Tokay  other. These wines are made by special methods and in a certain area of ​​winemaking. In Hungary, in the manufacture of Tokay used "noble" mold, allowing the berries to wither directly on the vine. In Portugal, Madera is aged in special tanning beds under the open sun; in Spain, sherry matures under a yeast film.

Table, dessert and fortified wines.  The first are prepared according to the technology of natural fermentation, the second - very sweet and flavored, and still others are attached with alcohol to the desired degree. In color, they can all be red, pink and white.

Champagne and other sparkling wines. Of these, the most popular is French, but in other countries there are equally worthy drinks, for example, Portuguese spumante, Spanish kava or Italian asti. Sparkling wines are notable for their special appearance, delicate aroma, interesting taste. Their main difference from still wines is playful bubbles. The color of the drink can be pink and white, but sometimes sparkling wines of red are found. According to their sugar content, they are divided into dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet. The quality of wine is determined by the number and size of bubbles, by how long they last and, of course, by taste.

These types of alcoholic beverages have a strength of not more than 20% vol.

Third, most extensive category

Vodka. Alcohol based grain drink containing 40% alcohol. By continuous distillation, a new product was obtained, called vodka “Absolute”, and its manufacturer, Lara Olsen Smith, was awarded the title of “king of vodka”. Sometimes this drink is infused with herbs, citrus fruits or nuts. Made by Swedish technology from high purity alcohol, vodka rightfully occupies one of the first places in the ranking of alcoholic beverages in this category. It is used to prepare various cocktails.

Tinctures bitter. They are obtained by insisting vodka or alcohol on aromatic spices, herbs or roots. The fortress is 25-30 degrees, but it can rise up to 45 o, for example, “Pepper”, “Stark” or “Hunting”.

Sweet drinks

Tinctures are sweet.  They are prepared on the basis of alcohol or vodka, mixing them with fruit fruit drinks and sugar, the content of which can reach 25%, while the alcohol content usually does not exceed 20%. Although some drinks are stronger, for example, the “Excellent” tincture contains 40% alcohol.

Pouring.  They differ in that they are made on the basis of fresh berries or fruits without yeast, but with the addition of strong vodka and large amounts of sugar. These types of alcoholic beverages are very thick and sweet. The name of liqueurs tells what they are made of: plum, cornel, strawberry. Although there are strange names: "spotykat", "casserole". Alcohol in them contains 20%, and sugar 30-40%.

Liqueurs. Thick, very sweet and strong drinks. They are made by mixing molasses or sugar syrup with alcohol infused on various herbs, spices, with the addition of essential oils and other aromatic substances. There are dessert liqueurs - with an alcohol content of up to 25%, strong - 45%, and fruit and berry, with a strength of 50%. Each of these species requires an exposure from 3 months to 2 years. The name of alcoholic beverages indicates which aromatic additives were used in the preparation of the product: “Vanilla”, “Coffee”, “Raspberry”, “Apricot” and so on.

Strong grape drinks

Cognacs It is made on the basis of brandy spirits, and spirits are obtained by fermentation of various grape varieties. One of the first places in the lineup is Armenian cognac. “Ararat” is the most popular, “Nairi”, “Armenia”, “Yubileiny” are no less known. Of the French, the most popular are Hennessee, Courvoisier, Martel, Heine. All brandies are divided into 3 categories. The first includes ordinary drinks aged for 3 years. The second is vintage cognacs, which have a minimum aging time of 6 years. The third includes long-lived drinks, called collectibles. Here the smallest excerpt is 9 years.

French, Azerbaijani, Russian, Armenian cognac are produced and sold by brandy houses, founded more than a century ago and still dominating the market.

Grappa. Italian vodka based on grape marc, aged in oak or cherry barrels from 6 months to 10 years. The value of the drink depends on the aging time, the grape variety and the place of the vine growing. Relatives of the grappa are Georgian chacha and South Slavic rakia.

Very strong alcoholic drinks

Absinthe  - one of them. Its main component is an extract of bitter wormwood. The essential oils of this plant contain the substance thujone, which is the main component of the drink. The more thujone, the better absinthe. The price depends on the percentage of the substance and the originality of the drink. Along with wormwood, anise, mint, dagil, licorice and other herbs are included in absinthe. Sometimes the whole leaves of wormwood are put on the bottom of the bottles to confirm the naturalness of the product. Thujone in absinthe can contain from 10 to 100%. By the way, the drink is presented in two varieties - silver and gold. So, the "golden" absinthe, the price of which is always quite high (from 2 to 15 thousand rubles per liter), is banned in Europe just because of the large amount of the above-mentioned substance in it, reaching 100%. The habitual color of the drink is emerald green, but it can be yellow, red, brown and even transparent.

Rum. Prepared by fermentation of the residual products of sugar cane - syrup and molasses. The quantity and quality of the product depends on the type and type of raw material. By color, the following types of rum are distinguished: the Cuban "Havana", "Varadero" (light or silver); gold or amber; Jamaican "Captain Morgan" (dark or black); Martinique (made from cane juice only). The strength of rum is 40-75 grams.

Spirits on fruit juice

Calvados.  One of the varieties of brandy. For the preparation of the product using 50 varieties of apples, and for the uniqueness they add a pear blend. Then the fruit juice is fermented and double distilled is clarified and brought to 70 degrees. Aged in oak or chestnut barrels from 2 to 10 years. Then, with softened water, the fortress is reduced to 40 o.

Gin, Balsam, Aquavit, Armagnac. They also fall into the third category, since alcohol contains them all. All this strong alcoholic beverages. Their prices depend on the quality of alcohol ("Lux", "Extra"), strength and endurance of the drink, brand and components. Many are composed of extracts of aromatic herbs and roots.

Homemade Drinks

Home brew is also a prominent representative of strong alcoholic beverages. Craftsmen make it from different products: it can be berries, apples, apricots or other fruits, wheat, potatoes, rice, any jam. They must add sugar and yeast. All this is fermented. Then by distillation get a strong drink with an alcohol content of up to 75%. For greater purity of the product can be done double distillation. Homemade moonshine is cleaned of fusel oils and other impurities by filtration, then it (optional) or insist on different herbs, nuts, spices, or diluted with fruit drinks, essences, juices. With proper preparation, this drink will not yield to different vodkas and tinctures in taste.

Finally, I would like to remind you of two simple rules, observing which, you will be able to maintain health and not be bored in a cheerful company: do not abuse alcohol and do not spend money on low-quality drinks. And then everything will be fine.

The low-alcohol beverages represented on the modern market contain alcohol, which was produced by fermentation, and not by processing in a still tank.

Low alcohol drinks include

• grape wine;
• vermouths;
• liqueurs;
• martini;
• beer;
• punch;
• cocktails;
• fizy;
• champagne;
• sake and other drinks.

The percentage of alcohol in them, as a rule, does not exceed 20 - 22%. But in some countries, the category of low alcohol also includes drinks, the percentage of alcohol in which reaches 28%. This moment must be taken into account when purchasing this or that product for subsequent sale.

Low alcohol wines

These drinks are created using the technology of natural fermentation of grapes or other natural fruit juice. The strength of the wines can vary from 9 to 16 revolutions. They are dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet. In addition, fortified wines are on the market, the required alcohol content in which is achieved by adding a certain amount of alcohol to the original product.

Vermouths

We are talking about drinks, the alcohol content in which ranges from 15 to 20 revolutions and for flavoring using spices, medicinal herbs or spices. Most experts attribute vermouths to the category of fortified wines.

Martini

This is a low-alcohol beverage, which is infused with herbs of more than 35 species. His fortress varies from 18 to 20 revolutions.

To give the martini a unique taste are used:

• yarrow;


• immortelle;


• chamomile;


• mint;


• sagebrush;


• carnation;


• ginger;


• cinnamon;


• st. John's wort;


• coriander, etc.

The drink belongs to the class of vermouths.

Low alcohol liqueurs

Liqueurs are prepared on the basis of grape brandy, and then insist on a variety of fruits, leaves of fruit trees and bushes, seeds, etc. They contain a large amount of sugar, and the strength of liquors can reach 25 revolutions or even exceed this value.

Low alcohol and non-alcoholic beer

This drink is prepared according to the fermentation technology of malt wort with hop and yeast. As the wort is most often used barley. The strength of beer can vary from 3 and up to 14 turns. In the modern market there are more than 1,000 different varieties of this drink, and they differ not only in strength, but also in taste, preparation technology, type of basic ingredients.

Punch

This category includes a wide range of hot, cold or chilled cocktails made from fresh or concentrated fruit, as well as fruit juice. As the alcohol component, vodka, brandy, arak, rum, grappa, wine, etc. can be added to the punch. The sugar content in the punch varies from 30 to 40%, and its strength - from 15 to 20 revolutions. The drink is mainly prepared at receptions and parties.

Low alcohol cocktails

This is an extensive category that includes beverages obtained by mixing a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic components. Cocktails are prepared in certain proportions, on which their strength directly depends. The volume of one serving of cocktail according to the rules should not exceed 150 ml.

Physical

These are all refreshing refreshing low-alcohol drinks with a frothy sparkling structure. Their main components are ice and sparkling water (as an option, sweet carbonated drinks). Fizi can be prepared with or without the addition of alcohol. The beverage is usually prepared by hand just before serving. However, in some cases, refreshing fizy with a foamy-sparkling structure are bought ready-made and simply cooled before use.

Champagne

Champagne is a sparkling wine that can be made from one or several grape varieties at once using double fermentation technology. It is sold in bottles and differs in approximately the same strength as grape wine.

Sake

This is a Japanese drink, which is prepared according to the technology of rice fermentation. Depending on the manufacturer, sake additives may have a taste of bananas, grapes, sherry, apples, spices or spices. The strength of the drink varies from 14 to 20 revolutions, and its shade can vary from transparent to greenish or yellowish.

Low alcohol drinks at the exhibition

The range is very wide, and if by the nature of your activity you are constantly dealing with such products, you can learn much more about it and the raw materials used to produce it. Just register as a participant or visitor in the international exhibition ProdExpo, which is held at the Expocentre Fairgrounds.

With the right approach, alcoholic drinks provide excellent opportunities for relaxation after a busy day. This page contains a list of alcoholic beverages that are traditional for different countries of the world. This list of the names of alcoholic beverages is far from complete and it lacks more than a hundred different types of alcohol. But the most popular alcoholic beverages in it are presented even with brief descriptions, thanks to which you can make your own first impression. This will help to collect your own "wine list" for planning a subsequent tasting. All the names of alcoholic beverages are given exactly in the form in which they are familiar to the vast majority of people. Read about common types of alcoholic beverages, learn about their beneficial and harmful properties. Choose for yourself the type of alcoholic drink that will allow you to get maximum pleasure from its use with minimal negative consequences for health. Well, look alcoholic beverages in the photo, which is richly illustrated article.

Classification of various traditional alcoholic beverages

Alcohols  - These are organic substances, which are a chain of carbohydrates, where one molecule of hydrogen is replaced by the residue of water OH. The classification of alcoholic beverages begins with the fact that there are alcohols: ethyl, methyl, propyl, butyl alcohols.

Food Ethyl Alcohol  for traditional alcoholic beverages produced from food raw materials - grains, potatoes, as well as from secondary raw materials of winemaking (grape marc, yeast sediments).

Technical methyl alcohol extremely toxic, by smell and taste does not differ from ethyl. On his account hundreds of thousands of human lives (accidentally drunk 100 ml of methyl alcohol leads to complete blindness due to toxic damage to the optic nerve, a greater number causes death).

Propyl and butyl alcohols  not so toxic, but they have a specific smell, which is why their name is fusel oil. Their content is high in moonshine, poorly purified vodka. Therefore, when we say alcohol or alcohol, we mean only ethyl (or wine) alcohol.

Rectified ethyl alcohol (ethanol)Designed for different alcoholic beverages can be ordinary or highly purified. The strength of ordinary alcohol is not less than 95.5%, and the highest level of purification is not lower than 96.2%. It is the source material for the preparation of popular alcoholic beverages such as vodka and fortified wine.

In medicine, ethyl alcohol is used (95.5% or 70%), subjected to thorough cleaning.

List and classification of strong alcoholic beverages

The following is a list of strong alcoholic beverages, which are frequent guests on the tables of our compatriots. This classification of strong alcoholic beverages is common and gives a general idea of ​​them. Look at what strong alcoholic drinks are and decide on your choice.

Strong white alcoholic drink: vodka and tequila

Vodka  - this is a strong alcoholic drink (40-56%), which is prepared by treating with an activated carbon an aqueous-alcoholic solution, with or without the addition of ingredients, with subsequent filtration. Simply put, vodka is a mixture of rectified alcohol with prepared water. Ethyl alcohol is mixed with water in any proportions.

Mexican "vodka"  - This is tequila, an alcoholic beverage obtained by distilling an extract of the cactus of the same name.

Even DI Mendeleev calculated the ideal proportion of preparing vodka as an alcoholic beverage with a percentage ratio of 40: 60, that is, 40% alcohol solution, which is the most homogeneous mixture, is easiest to digest and gives a person more heat. Not for nothing that vodka made in this way has long served not only gastronomic purposes, but also curative.

Studies by American and German scientists have led to the conclusion that a normal dose of white alcoholic beverage for an adult man is up to 100 ml of alcohol per day, calculated for vodka, and for a woman, respectively, almost 2 times less. Moreover, this dose is not cumulative during the week (for example, if a person did not drink the whole week, then half a liter per person on Saturday would bring him only harm, at best a severe headache).

If a person can limit himself to this dose, he will be able to drink alcohol for many years without harm to his health. At the same time, you need to give yourself the presumption that these self-restraints are not a forced ban, but a wise distribution of pleasure: having drunk a little today and having fun, you can do it tomorrow and after tomorrow, and many, many years in the future. If you do not do this, then you will have to face very big problems in a relatively short time.

English alcoholic drinks: scotch and gin

Gin  - strong alcoholic drink, obtained by mixing raw alcohol with the essential oils of juniper berries, coriander, cardamom, cumin, ginger, cinnamon. The alcohol content in this English alcoholic beverage is 40-50%. Genie is colorless. Although gin is produced in many countries, there are two types of it - the Dutch and London dry.

Scotch  - This is an alcoholic drink of increased strength and is also traditionally produced and used in England and the surrounding areas.

Whiskey alcoholic drink

Whiskey  - strong alcoholic drink with an alcohol content of 40% or more, which is obtained by distilling fermented grain mash followed by a long exposure (from 3 to 10 years) in oak barrels with charred walls.

The word "whiskey" comes from the Celtic name of this drink - "water of life".

Whiskey - the national drink of the Anglo-Saxon countries. The production of whiskey is especially developed in the UK, Ireland, USA and Canada.

Alcoholic drink rum

Rum  - strong alcoholic beverage obtained by extracting rum alcohol in oak barrels. Rum alcohol is produced from fermented sugar cane juice, cane syrup, cane sugar molasses and other by-products of cane processing.

The resulting alcohol is poured into oak barrels and kept for 5 years. In the process of aging in alcohol pass aromatic, coloring and tannins. Rum acquires a brown color with a golden hue and slightly burning taste. The alcohol content in the final product is below 95%.

Alcoholic drink brandy and brandy

Cognac  - strong alcoholic drink made from brandy alcohol, which is produced by distilling grape wines followed by aging of distillation in oak barrels. Fresh brandy alcohol is colorless, low aromatic and sharp on taste. Cognac ripens extremely slowly.

Brandy  - strong alcoholic drink, obtained by distilling any fortified juice of fruits or berries, followed by aging. In many countries, brandy made from apples is known - Calvados, from plums - plum brandy, from cherry - kirsch, from pears - William.

Brandy from grape wines does not require any clarification for the label on the label. Fruit brandy should be accompanied by appropriate explanations (apple brandy, apricot brandy, etc.).

Brandy raw materials are not thoroughly cleaned, like for brandy or vodka, and retains a fruity aroma. Brandy stand in oak barrels, charred from the inside (to improve taste), and in other containers.

Before use, brandy is diluted and taken, as a rule, after meals. It is also used as an ingredient in many cocktails. Strong brandy (80-90%) in undiluted form is not used at all.

In the gastronomic tradition, cognac and brandy are used as a digest, because they promote digestion (from the Latin word digestivus, which translates as a means of promoting digestion).

A large healthy man (90 kg) for the pleasure of 100 ml of brandy is enough. A large dose will not give more pleasure and only cause foolishness.

Weak green alcoholic drink

Weak alcoholic beverages in the form of liqueurs are prepared on rectified alcohol, alcoholized fruit juice, infusions of herbs, seeds, flowers, sugar syrup, solutions of dyes and other substances. These products, in addition to the actual liquor, include such beverages as balm, gin, whiskey, rum.

Liquor  - it is a strong, sweet and spicy alcoholic drink of green color, made from alcoholized juices, extracts of fruit or herbs, sugar syrup, aromatic infusions, etc.

Alcohol drink tincture

Alcoholic drink tincture is prepared on alcohol infusions of spicy and medicinal herbs, roots, fruits, essential oils, which give it a strong pleasant aroma.

Tinctures have a tonic effect on the body. Excite the appetite. Alcohol content - 30-60%

They are used mainly as flavors of all kinds.

Grape alcoholic drink wine

Wine - this is probably the most ancient alcoholic drink, which for many centuries of its existence has found its own unique world, painted with many colors, shades of taste and aroma.

According to the method of production and composition of wine as alcoholic beverages, are divided into table, fortified (strong and dessert), flavored and sparkling.

Most natural wines are dry. They are called so because all the sugar contained in them "dry" is fermented into alcohol. There are natural semi-dry or semi-sweet wines, in which sugar still remains - due to the natural features of a particular grape variety.

As can be seen from the table, ethyl alcohol in dry grape wines contains from 9 to 16%. But wine is not diluted alcohol. Grape wine, especially red wine, is a source of biologically important substances whose supply to the body with other foods is limited or impossible.

According to the famous French physician Louis Pasteur, wine can be considered as the most healthy hygienic drink (of course, if not abused). But still it is an alcoholic drink that, in one way or another, is a stumbling block: to be cured or to sleep? There is a completely legitimate question about how much wine should be drunk for the benefit of health. Of course, the whole thing in the dose.

It is believed that the consumption of wine in the amount of 5–7% for men and 2–4% for women of the daily caloric intake, provided the diet is balanced, does not adversely affect the body.

Doctors found that with moderate use of natural wine, the risk of cardiovascular diseases is reduced by up to 35% and mortality due to coronary insufficiency is reduced to 15-60%. Two glasses of natural red wine compensate for the damage caused to the vessels as a result of smoking one cigarette. In addition, drinking wine reduces the risk of cancer. It is proved that red wine inhibits the development of leukemia, skin cancer, breast cancer, prostate.

However, we must remember that regular intake of wine in large quantities is fraught with alcoholism. Despite the fact that treatment with alcoholic beverages can significantly improve health and at the same time be enjoyable, you still need to approach this problem with a completely sober head.

The curative effect of light alcoholic beverages

The practice of treatment with the help of light alcoholic beverages has very ancient roots, this problem remains very topical today. Scientists in many countries have studied and are studying the effect of alcoholic beverages on the human body. There have been many serious studies, the results of which often surprised the scientists themselves. So, it turned out that people who regularly consume alcoholic beverages in small doses (for example, a small glass of brandy or a glass of dry wine a day) are sick less and live longer than strict non-drinkers. Thus, this reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease by up to 40%. Moreover, such a protective effect has only natural alcohol - wine, brandy, whiskey, grappa, chacha - in general, drinks obtained by ordinary distillation. It is all a matter of natural trace impurities that remain after distillation, but are no longer contained in pure alcohol. They provide a powerful protective effect of natural alcoholic beverages.

Wine, as well as strong alcoholic drinks are recommended to be used for general strengthening of the body, as a painkiller, relaxing and sedative. Of course, everyone knows the antiviral and bactericidal effect of alcoholic beverages. For example, in wine, even diluted, causative agents of cholera, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, and polio viruses die in 10–30 minutes. So a glass of good natural wine or brandy is an effective prevention of all sorts of infectious diseases and intestinal disorders.

The most positive effect of natural alcohol on brain activity. For example, a study by American scientists showed that older women who drink a little alcohol every day (a glass of wine, a mug of beer, or a glass of brandy) suffer less from age-related deterioration of brain function than a sober. Problems with memory and other mental disorders appear in them by about 20% less frequently than in non-drinking women.

A glass of brandy or a glass of wine can also reduce insulin levels and increase the sensitivity of cells to it. Prior to the invention of insulin for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, for example, alcohol was used predominantly, most often strong wine.

Cognac and wine also help to get rid of excess weight, stimulating the secretion of the gallbladder and accelerating the digestion of fats. In general, alcoholic drinks in small doses remarkably stimulate digestion, food is better absorbed, and toxins and slags are removed from the body in time.

Natural alcoholic beverages are especially beneficial for women during and after menopause. It was during this period, due to a sharp decrease in the level of female estrogen hormones, the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular insufficiency increases. A small dose of alcohol stimulates the production of estrogen by the adrenal glands, thereby supporting the protective functions of the female body.

A rare holiday or sad event in Russia goes without alcohol. Low alcohol drinks are becoming increasingly popular today. They enable the consumer to be “under a small degree,” while not getting very drunk. Because of this, many young people do not miss the opportunity every evening to drink a cocktail or beer. Argued that the harm of low-alcohol beverages is not so great. Doctors claim that the damage to the health of low-alcohol beverages is sufficient to refuse to use them. But let's take it in order ...

  Types and composition

The main classification is based on the amount of alcohol contained. The basis of any alcoholic beverage is ethyl alcohol. Depending on the amount of this clear liquid with a characteristic odor and burning taste, alcohol products are divided into types.

In high alcohol beverages, the percentage of ethyl alcohol reaches 96. Spirits, such as vodka, brandy, whiskey and rum, contain from 31 to 65% ethyl alcohol. Liquor-casting products and wines belong to the medium alcoholic beverages, which are characterized by the alcohol content in an amount of from 10 to 30%. Low alcohol drinks contain only 1.5 to 9% alcohol. The most popular representative of this category is beer.

Ethyl alcohol in Russia is widely used in various fields. In industry, medicine, food industry and national economy it is impossible to do without it. But on the human body, it acts very detrimental.

Where did strange drinks come from in Russia?

“Long drink”, or drinks that should be drunk for a long time, stretching pleasure, appeared in Russia in the early nineties. The first swallows flew, as expected, from Europe. Not yet spoiled by Russian buyers attracted the unusual taste and affordable price of foreign treats. Domestic manufacturers noticed a high demand, simplicity and cheapness of technologies, therefore they quickly made a serious competition to European brands.

In the history of the production of Russian low-alcohol beverages, there were recessions, crises, and prosperity, as well as import bans. Today, production and overseas supplies are well established, and there is a huge assortment of low-alcohol beverages on the shelves.

By the summer, manufacturers are preparing thoroughly: they replenish the list of low-alcohol drinks, create new tastes, experiment with packaging, update the design, and look for new points of sale.

How low alcohol drinks won the love and wallets of buyers

The absolute majority of adult buyers at least once in their life have tried a low-alcohol cocktail, and many have become its true connoisseurs and regular consumers. What is the secret of the popularity of these drinks?

First: a huge selection. The buyer even with the most unusual gastronomic preferences can find a drink to taste. The most common drinks are lemon, orange, grapefruit, raspberry, banana, exotic fruit and, of course, beer.

Secondly: pricing. As noted above, low alcohol tonic drinks are much more attractive than alcohol of higher strength.

Thirdly: walking distance. Today, on the shelves of any store, supermarket, in the menu of a cafe or club there is a huge selection of cocktails.

Fourthly: the effect created by the drink is an opportunity to relax and rest. With this drink, people can not only quench their thirst, but, thanks to a small dose of alcohol, they can relax and relax themselves, not being afraid to get drunk to recklessness.

Of course, low-alcohol mainly prefers active young people. Most manufacturers are guided by them when choosing technologies, packaging and advertising strategy. People belonging to the older age category prefer stronger drinks and beer.

Beverages to raise the tone

Modern man, especially in the metropolis, lives in constant bustle, noise, stress and habits. Including he gets used to be in trend and live at a frantic pace. Of course, this requires strength and rest. But where to take time to rest, how to spend it with benefit and make the body work longer, and the brain is more productive? Many young people use low-alcohol tonic drinks as a “recharge”. The list of popular brands on the market is very extensive.

Soft drinks and low alcohol drinks with tonic substance are considered to be tonic. This component requires quite a bit to have a stimulating (tonic) effect on the human body.

The composition of energy drinks include carbohydrates, caffeine and plant extracts. These components have a stimulating effect on the person. It is believed that not only harm, but also benefit the body bring low alcohol tonic. The list of organs that they positively influence is impressive: the digestive system, the stomach, the intestines, the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

But there are categories of consumers who are not recommended to use tonic drinks - these are pregnant women, adolescents, the elderly, as well as persons suffering from insomnia or with an unstable psyche. Even a healthy adult should not drink more than one bottle (cans) per day.

Types of low alcohol drinks popular in Russia

Increasingly, low-alcohol drinks began to fall into the shopping cart. Affordable price, large selection and relaxing effect of drinking makes them attractive to consumers.

The most famous are the following drinks:

Kvass is a traditional Russian drink with a strength of up to 2.5%. For kvass need bread or milk ferment. Lactic and acetic acids provide kvass with beneficial properties. It helps to improve digestion, metabolism, as well as normal muscle tone. In addition, it includes a bouquet of vitamins, amino acids and microelements that have a positive effect on the body. But kvass is contraindicated during pregnancy, lactation, children under three years of age, as well as people with a stomach ulcer and liver cirrhosis.

Cider and Perry — Apple wort and yeast are used to make these drinks. A special sort of apple is grown for making cider, so it is not the cheapest in its category. Perry is considered a type of cider, only it is based on the fermentation of pear juice.

Champagne - not all such wines belong to low-alcohol drinks, some have a fortress above the 9% threshold. Champagne is a drink of celebration and celebration. It is produced by one of the methods: autotrophic or bottle champagne. In a quality drink, the bubbles will be small, not large or medium, as in soda. Champagne is attributed to a number of useful properties because of the polyphenol that is included in its composition. This drink has bactericidal properties, lowers blood pressure and improves blood circulation in the brain. But from him very quickly get drunk, the bubbles can cause rot in the stomach, and when drinking champagne for pregnant women, cerebral palsy may develop in the fetus.

Wine is one of the noblest drinks. Although most wines are not included in the category of low alcohol beverages, as their strength mark starts from 9%. The main raw material is grapes of different varieties. There are red and white wine, dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, table, pink. Very often on the shelves you can find a bottle at a very low price, indicating that the basis of the drink is powder. Natural wine really has beneficial properties, because it contains vitamins, acids, trace elements, antioxidants, iron and other biologically active substances. If you drink wine within reasonable limits, it helps reduce cholesterol levels, remove toxins and toxins from the body. With the abuse of such a drink, a person is threatened with ischemic heart disease, diabetes and the development of cancers.

Beer is a low-alcohol beverage that is prepared using barley malt, hops, yeast and water. This product took all the best from cereals: vitamins B 1, B 2, B 6, H, C, K, acids and trace elements. Drinking beer in moderation improves metabolic processes and reduces the risk of malignant tumors.

Kumis is not a very common drink in Russia, but definitely worthy of attention. This product is made on the basis of mare's milk and, of course, yeast. The strength of such a drink can vary significantly from different manufacturers - from 0.2 to 40%. Kumys is endowed with beneficial properties due to vitamins, minerals, fats and live lactic acid bacteria included in its composition. It has a positive effect on the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

• Cocktails based on liqueurs - "Gin and Tonic", "Jaguar", "Strike", "Hooch", "Screwdriver", "Shake", "Revo", "Rum-Cola", "Brandy-Cola" and much more. A large number of similar drinks on the shelves, we have given only a few examples. In cans and bottles with such products there are a lot of preservatives.

These are the most popular drinks in our country. If the cultures of other countries more closely consider alcoholic beverages, the list will be much longer.

Scale and single issues of low alcohol beverages

Every buyer knows about the existence of low-alcohol beverages. Today, such a multitude of rarely drinking citizenship can easily become confused. Let's understand what applies to low alcohol beverages.

Low alcohol drinks are considered, the alcohol content in which does not exceed 9%. In their preparation, juices, extracts of plant materials, bee products, grapes and sugar are used. Also, the recipe includes flavoring and aromatic additives, dyes and water. Naturally, this is an incomplete list of ingredients for the preparation of an alcoholic beverage. The production and sale of alcoholic products is strictly regulated by the state.

Gardeners have their own secrets of producing drinks of varying degrees of strength. Beer, cocktails, liqueurs, wine, kvass and other low alcohol drinks at home is easy to prepare. Domestic "manufacturers" love to talk about the benefits of their drinks, in any case, such products should not be abused!

Stages of intoxication

The word "alcohol" came from the Arabic "al kegol", which means "intoxicating." Undoubtedly, alcohol-containing beverages have a stupefying effect. There are several stages of the influence of alcohol on the body of an adult:




The effect of alcohol on the male body

There is a myth that, unlike strong alcoholic beverages, low alcohol products are harmless. Low alcohol drinks have a negative effect on the male body, the list of consequences of which depends on their composition.

Most often, beer is consumed in large quantities. Consider the result based on it:

• "Beer belly" - a famous feature of beer lovers. The deposition of fat in the male is the female type and leads to further obesity. The fat formed due to the love of beer, very quickly breaks down and enters the liver, forming cholesterol there.
• In the future, these men waiting for atherosclerosis, as a result of which increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
• In men who consume beer in large quantities, the development of gynecomastia is observed. It is expressed in an increase in the mammary glands, an increase in the timbre of the voice, the cessation of growth of the bristles, emotional distress, and Often impotence develops as a result of such changes.

To cope with a man with hormonal disruptions and other problems caused by the frequent use of low-alcohol beverages, can a healthy lifestyle, diet and the rejection (at least a significant decrease) of these dangerous products.

The effect of alcohol on the female body

Low alcohol drinks often cause damaging damage to the female body, especially when consumed in large quantities. Ladies accustomed to drinking alcohol, threatened:

• the occurrence of a stroke;
• phlebeurysm;
• decrease in mental capacity and memory impairment, since alcohol in any doses kills cells of the human brain;
• gastritis, gastric ulcer;
• hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver;
• change in shape, deterioration of skin color and structure;
• hormonal disruptions, the development of infertility.



Girls and women are better to abstain or reduce the dose of alcohol. And there are also periods when alcohol, even with the smallest alcohol content, should be completely excluded from the diet. The use of low alcohol drinks during pregnancy or lactation is strictly contraindicated!

The effect of alcohol on children and adolescents

Of course, if we talk about kvass and kefir, in which fermentation is also present, then parents give these products to children without thinking. When it comes to alcohol-containing beverages, it is worth remembering about their impact on the children's body and to prevent the child from even tasting.

Keep track of a teenager is very difficult. Young boys and girls can not wait to try adulthood and entertainment. But the harm of low-alcohol drinks is colossal, it needs to be explained and “drunk” to your child. A strong blow to an unformed organism can lead to tragedy. Here we are talking not only about fatal cases, it also means illness, mental and mental disorder, infertility and impotence.

Law and low alcohol drinks

In many countries, various bans on low-alcohol and tonic beverages have been introduced.

In Russia, the law provides penalties for such violations:

• drinking alcohol, including low-alcohol drinks, in the wrong places;
• sale of alcoholic beverages in the wrong places;
•   after 22:00;
• non-compliance with advertising restrictions;
• neglect of age restrictions in the sale and use of alcoholic beverages.

The struggle of the state against alcohol products is inextricably linked with the promotion of such goods, since their producers are serious taxpayers.

To drink or not to drink, everyone decides for himself. But we must remember that minute weakness can have an irreparable effect on a person. If you abuse even low alcohol drinks, the body will not forgive you!

It is not a secret for anyone that alcohol in large quantities negatively affects the state of health. However, despite this, liquor remains very popular. Alcohol brands are among the most expensive brands, and the volume of alcohol production worldwide reaches incredible proportions. And every year there are more and more new types of alcoholic beverages.

This is our mentality that no feast passes without alcohol. However, even choosing one or another type of alcohol, few people know what method it is produced. Well, let's get better. So, in today's publication we will look at what types of alcohol exist today and how is the process of making one or another alcoholic drink.

To begin with, all types of alcoholic beverages are divided into groups depending on the strength. Therefore, there are such groups:

• low alcohol;
• medium alcohol;
• strong.

Low alcohol drinks

Low alcohol drinks include those types of alcohol, the alcohol content of which does not exceed 8%. These include:

• beer,  which is obtained by fermenting malt wort by the action of brewer's yeast. The beer also contains hops. Despite the fact that beer has many beneficial qualities, its use in large quantities badly damages the body;
• braga- a mixture obtained by fermentation of various plant products - vegetables and fruits. Most often serves as raw materials for the preparation of moonshine;
• cider- Apple drink, prepared without the use of yeast;
• toddy- the product of the fermentation of the juices of some palm trees;
• kvass- is not considered alcohol, but contains ethanol in small quantities;
• koumiss- a very useful fermented milk product based on mare's milk, which also contains a small amount of alcohol.

In small doses, alcoholic beverages are practically harmless to the body. However, if they are consumed frequently and in unlimited quantities, this will lead not only to alcohol intoxication (with the exception of koumiss), but also to disruption of the work of many organs of our body.

Soft drinks

Medium alcohol drinks contain up to 30% ethyl alcohol. These include:

• wine- fermented grape juice, which in a small amount is very useful for the body and even approved by doctors. However, due to the content of ethyl wine can badly harm our health if it is abused;
• mead  - alcoholic drink made from honey;
• mulled wine- wine with fruit and spices, cooked by cooking;
• grog  - diluted rum;
• sake- rice wine, a traditional Japanese alcoholic drink;
• punch- wine, diluted with juice.

These products should also be careful not to exceed the allowable rate.

Strong alcoholic drinks

Strong alcoholic drinks are characterized by their alcohol content, which can reach up to 80%. Therefore, the abuse of strong types of drinking is most dangerous for the body. These products include:

• vodka- made from rectified alcohol mixed in various proportions with water. Alcohol is mainly obtained from potato and grain raw materials;
• cognac  - alcoholic drink made from special grape varieties;
• rum or cane vodkamade from cane syrup - waste from the production of sugar cane;
• sambuca- vodka with the addition of anise or herbal;
• gin  - the product of distillation of wheat alcohol, also contains juniper berries;
• whiskey  - the type of alcohol produced by the complex process of malt fermentation and distillation of cereals;
• brandy  - product of distillation of grape or apple wine;
• liquor- alcoholic beverage based on various juices;
• absinthe- the strongest alcohol, which contains up to 70% alcohol and is made using wormwood;
• tincture- alcoholic beverage, which is obtained by insisting alcohol on various berries and spices.

Here, in principle, and all the main types of alcohol, which are most often found on feasts. We did not include exclusive alcoholic beverages in the list, since there are a lot of them.