animaIs only, ethanol administered in water as the drinking fluid significantly increased the incidences of hepatocelIular carcinomas and of tumours of the pituitary gland, of the adrenal gland and of pancreatic islet celIs, but neither isocaloric nor isonutrient diets

Alcoho1ic beverages are produced from raw materials by fermentation. The predominant types of commercially produced alcoholIc beverages are beer, wine and spirits. The main components of all alcoholic beverages are ethanol and water; beers also contain substantial amounts of carbohydrates. Many compounds that have been identified as common to alI alcoholic beverages are present in different quantities depending on the beverage. Some components and occasional contaminants include known and suspected carcinogens. Beers and wines also contain vitamins and other nutrients which are usually absent from distiled spirits. Despite the differences in concentration, the average intake of ethanol per drink is approximately constant across beverage types. A1coholic beverages, both home-made and commercially produced, have long been consumed in most parts of the world. Recorded consumption tends to be higher in societies with populations of European origin and lower in MuslIm societies. ln most of the developed countries, a majority of adults consume alcoholIc beverages at least occasionally. Since 1950, consumption per head has increased substantially in most parts ofthe world, although since the mid-1970s a reduction in the rate of increase and, in some countries, a declIne in consumption have occurred. Drinking patternsoverall level of alcohol consumption, choice of alcoholic beverages, differences by sex and age and temporal variations differ among and within societies.