Alcohol (when used commonly refers to ethanol) is consumed widely around the world for numerous reasons. Its properties have been both praised and demonized. In humans it generally acts as a depressant with, conversely, mild stimulating effects of some parts of the brain.
At low levels of consumption alcohol has minimal effects on a person; at higher levels it leads to disorientation, coma, and death.
Most alcohol that is consumed is removed from the body via the liver, which breaks alcohol down before removal. However, alcohol can readily cross any cell membrane. Ethanol is widely used as a solvent and disinfectant. It is used as a solvent because it breaks down many proteins and other molecules, such as lipids, which form the main structure of cell walls. It is used as a disinfectant for the same reasons
