In popular culture, we see alcohol as a means to release inhibitions and socialize. Alcohol consumption is one of the main social activities practiced throughout the world. It's seen as customary when people come of age, but when does drinking alcohol become more of a burden than a fun activity? Alcohol consumption may seem harmless but, over time, it can cause many health problems. We [as a culture] glorify its consumption, without thinking too much about the effects it has on our bodies. Many people don't realize this and often become addicted to alcohol consumption. Specific information about alcoholism and the biological factors surrounding it will be discussed in this essay. Alcohol refers to drinks that contain ethyl alcohol, such as beer, wine and spirits. Ethyl alcohol is responsible for causing sensations of altered consciousness and mood (Department of Health, 2012). It can be considered a sedative so it alters the activity of neurotransmitters in the brain. This, in turn, creates feelings of euphoria, which is why alcohol is so popular; it makes people feel good. Some of the immediate effects of alcohol consumption include a feeling of relaxation, slowed reflexes, increased confidence, and mood changes. However, these effects vary from person to person; alcohol has different effects on different people. Increased alcohol consumption, in contrast, has more universal effects on individuals. Some of these effects include confusion, memory loss, nausea, coma, and even death. Research has suggested that alcohol use causes significant changes in the brain's neurotransmitters. It tends to excite the functions of inhibitory neurotransmitters, such as GABA, glycine and adenosine,......center of paper......pocampus of alcoholics. This was discovered through careful analyzes of brain structures and contiguous MRI sections of the target brain structure (Sullivan et al., 1995). The hippocampus is involved in processes such as memory formation, spatial orientation and emotion/response formation. Damage to this brain structure could be attributed to some behaviors associated with alcoholism, such as difficulty recalling memories, confusion, and heightened emotional states. In conclusion, alcohol use has many short- and long-term effects. It transforms our perceptions, cognitions, and even our physical health and well-being. These transformations are the explanation for the way we behave when we drink. It affects everyone to a different extent, but after long periods of alcohol use and abuse, it has major harmful effects on our bodies.