Alcohol: no ordinary commodity

Abstract

Abstract Beer, wine, and distilled spirits are alcohol-based commodities that are bought and sold in the marketplace. But alcohol is also a drug with toxic effects and other intrinsic dangers such as intoxication and dependence. This chapter examines these different aspects of alcoholic beverages, paying special attention to the contrast between alcohol’s dual role as a commodity and as a drug. Alcohol exacts enormous costs, both financial and personal, not only from individual drinkers, but also from the people and institutions that surround them. Like tobacco and other harmful commodities, alcohol has the potential to cause harm in multiple ways.