Chicago Basset On-Premise Server Practice Test

What is the primary active component in alcoholic beverages?

1. Methanol

2. Ethanol

3. Butanol

4. Propanol

The correct answer is: Ethanol

Ethanol is the primary active component in alcoholic beverages, as it is the type of alcohol that is safe for human consumption and responsible for the intoxicating effects of these beverages. In the fermentation process, sugars are converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide by yeast. This process is essential for producing beer, wine, and spirits. Methanol, though an alcohol, is highly toxic and can cause serious health issues, including blindness and death, if ingested. Butanol and propanol are types of alcohol that are primarily used in industrial applications and are not suitable for consumption. They do not participate in the fermentation process that produces alcoholic drinks and are not present in any significant quantity in beverages consumed for recreational purposes. Thus, ethanol stands out as the recognized alcohol that is both naturally occurring in fermentation processes and widely accepted in alcoholic beverages.