Every year, the numbers of deaths caused by drinking and driving increases drastically. In the US, it was recorded that close to 10,000 people lost their lives due to fatal accidents in 2017 alone. We all know that there are various programs and rehab centers to help people recover from alcohol addictions. There are even a number of different effects that alcohol has on our overall health. What we often do not realize is the environmental impact of alcohol production.
The effects of alcohol production on our natural resources
The first thing we will look at is the environmental impact of alcohol production on our natural resources. Given the fact that the demand for various kinds of liquor is increasing every year, manufacturers have to increase their production levels. In order to produce the various types of alcohol, we need natural resources; crops such as agave, sugar cane, botanicals, rice, potatoes, and grains, just to name a few. Apart from that, we also need to look at the resources used to run and maintain the equipment used, the land occupied for building the factories and manufacturing units, water, fertilizer and etc.
The materials used is another negative effect of alcohol on the environment
Another environmental impact of alcohol production is the materials that are used. Since we are talking about plastics, glass and aluminum packaging; these materials on their own have a bad effect on the environment. Every year there are millions of bottles that are disposed of every second throughout the globe. The same is applied to the other packaging as well. This, in turn, ends up as various forms of environmental pollution. Even packaging materials like cardboard end up polluting the environment.
The release of greenhouse gasses and carbon footprints
Manufacturing, in general, is harmful to the environment. Since there are so many levels in the production, the use of energy and other natural resources is to the maximum. Moreover, the release of poisonous smoke is one of the biggest causes of various kinds of medical conditions like respiratory issues. It is not just humans, but even wildlife is on the paying end due to these issues.
The statists of the environmental impact of alcohol production are alarming
If you look at the various research and reports on the environmental effects of alcohol use; you will find that they really show a cause for concern. On average, the percentage of alcohol emission for beer production is close to 62%. For wine, it is close to 27%, while for spirit-based alcohol, the alcohol emission is around 6.7%.
So in reality, it is not just alcohol that is a problem, however, the manufacturing process of our beloved drinks are equally bad. These are just some of the many factors that play a vital role in how our environment is being damaged because of our love for alcohol. Even the distribution process and methodologies have their own effects on the environment. As important as it is for us to realize the negative impact of alcohol on our bodies, it is equally important for us to understand the impact of mass production of alcohol on our environment.
Article Submitted By Community Writer