- Yeast feeds on sugar in the absence of oxygen and produces ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide as byproducts. Only 20% of consumed alcohol is absorbed by the stomach, with the majority being absorbed by the small intestine. - Heavy drinking can lead to health issues like dehydration from increased urination, and up to 33,000 deaths per year in the UK. Binge drinking is also thought to have long term health impacts. - When drunk, motor functions and other basic bodily functions controlled by parts of the brain like the cerebellum and brainstem can be impaired, potentially leading to loss of consciousness or death in extreme cases.