Alcoholize is a verb that means to convert something into an alcohol, to treat or saturate something with an alcohol, or to place someone under the influence of alcoholic beverages. According to Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary, alcoholize can also be spelled as alcoholise in British English. The noun form of alcoholize is alcoholization or alcoholisation.

Alcoholize can be used in different contexts, such as chemistry, medicine, or social situations. For example:

• To produce ethanol, sugar is alcoholized by yeast through fermentation.
• Some fruits are alcoholized by soaking them in liquor for a long time.
• The doctor alcoholized the wound with a cotton swab before stitching it up.
• He was so alcoholized that he could barely stand up straight.

Alcoholize is not a very common word in everyday speech, and it may sound formal or technical. Some synonyms for alcoholize are:

• Alcoholify: to make something alcoholic or intoxicating.
• Inebriate: to make someone drunk or intoxicated.
• Intoxicate: to affect someone with alcohol or another substance that alters their mental or physical state.

Alcoholize is derived from the word alcohol, which comes from the Arabic al-kuḥl, meaning “the kohl”. Kohl was a fine powder used as an eye cosmetic in ancient times, and it was obtained by sublimating a metallic sulfide. The term al-kuḥl was later applied to any substance obtained by sublimation, and then to any distilled substance. Eventually, it came to refer specifically to ethanol, the most common type of alcohol.

Alcoholizing can have various effects and risks depending on the amount, type, and frequency of alcohol consumption. Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in mood, cognition, perception, and behavior. Some of the short-term effects of alcoholizing are:

• Relaxation, euphoria, or excitement.
• Impaired judgment, memory, and coordination.
• Slurred speech, blurred vision, and drowsiness.
• Nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.
• Blackouts, hangovers, and alcohol poisoning.

Some of the long-term effects of alcoholizing are:

• Tolerance, dependence, and addiction.
• Liver damage, cirrhosis, and hepatitis.
• Brain damage, dementia, and stroke.
• Heart disease, hypertension, and arrhythmia.
• Cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and breast.

Alcoholizing can also increase the risk of accidents, injuries, violence, suicide, and homicide. It can also affect one’s social, personal, and professional relationships. Alcoholizing can interact with other drugs or medications, causing adverse or unpredictable effects. Alcoholizing during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which is a condition that affects the development and growth of the baby.

Alcoholizing is not recommended for people who have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, ulcers, epilepsy, or depression. It is also not recommended for people who are underage, pregnant, breastfeeding, or driving. Alcoholizing should be done in moderation and with caution. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025) define moderate drinking as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. One drink is equivalent to 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits.