Alcohol, specifically ethanol, is a psychoactive substance that is central to many social activities. Once consumed, it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine. The liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing alcohol, primarily through the action of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). This process converts ethanol into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound, which is further broken down into less harmful acetic acid by the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH).
