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ine, beer, and spirits It’s also important to look at the on the environment, there are
Ware staples of American physical transportation costs that concrete steps that can be taken.
social life. In fact, alcohol is one come with distributing alcohol.
of the largest industries in the Tequila is a product that can According to a study by the Food
United States. As a culture, we’re only be produced in Mexico, and Climate Research Network, “While
well aware of the impact that scotch whisky can only be made in beer accounts for 80.5 percent of
alcohol can have on the human Scotland, yet both are readily and alcohol consumption by volume,
body, especially when abused. widely available all around the world. it emits only 62 percent of alcohol
emissions. Wine’s volume share of
Most understand that alcohol According to a recent piece featured alcohol consumption is 16 percent
use and abuse has the potential in Mother Jones, each alcoholic but its emissions contribute over
to negatively impact a person’s beverage has environmental 27 percent of the alcohol total.
social life, their physical and impacts that one might not think For spirits, the total volume of
mental health, and their career, about. “In 2008, New Belgium consumption is 3.5 percent while
among other things. But few Brewing Company commissioned its share of emissions is 6.7 percent.”
understand the impacts that alcohol an environmental analysis of its
consumption can have on the planet. Fat Tire Amber Ale and found it’s also important to evaluate
that refrigeration accounted for distillers, as some impact the
Alcohol, like anything humans almost one-third of its overall environment more than others.
consume, requires a number of greenhouse-gas emissions,” Keira For example, Maker’s Mark, a
natu ral resources. When produced Butler writes. “Glass production was company that distills whiskey, buys
at a mass level, there’s no question second, contributing 22 percent.” local grain and turns the waste
that alcohol production and from processing into energy and
consumption can have a significant Comparatively, distilled spirits owns land that is a part of a nature
impact on the environment. use more energy, ounce, for ounce, reserve. As attention toward climate
and nearly all the water used in change becomes more pressing,
There are a number of ways in which productions emerges as waste. more and more distilleries are
alcohol production negatively Rum is especially toxic to the enacting similar measures to help
impacts the planet, starting with the environment as it’s made from lessen their environmental impact.
process of growing the ingredients molasses and cane juice, which can
necessary to produce alcohol. disrupt the microorganism balance While the consumption of
Grains, potatoes, rice, botanicals, in the places where it’s distilled. alcohol has long been a part of
sugar cane, and agave are all Tequila is just as environmentally human culture, it’s important that
significant ingredients in the alcohol hazardous. According to Butler, we evaluate and recognize the
industry, each of which require “For every liter of tequila, you get relationship that exists between
a significant amount of water, about 11 pounds of pulp and 10 alcohol production, manufacturing,
fertilizer, land, and use of machinery. liters of vinazas, or acidic waste and consumption and the
— which ends up befouling soil impact that it might have on the
There are also issues with packaging and water in Mexico’s alisco state.” environment. Once we understand
and distributing alcholic beverages how these facets interconnect, we
n enormous number of bottles, While it’s important to understand can make more responsible choices
cans, kegs, plastic, and cardboard and study the impacts that alcohol when it comes to consumption.
has on individuals, families, and
Aboxes are necessary for shipping public health, it’s just as important
and distributing alcoholic beverages to evaluate the impact that alcohol
all over the world. While many of has on the environment. Especially
these resources are reusable and since the health of the environment
recyclable, many are just as easily has direct consequences for
broken and damaged, creating our health as well. For those Text Avery Phillips

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