Alcohols

Contrary to popular belief, fermented alcoholic drinks usually contain several alcohols, but in smaller amounts than ethanol, that act as psychoactive drugs with different degrees of potency and effects and also contribute to the color, odor, and flavor of beverages.

Chemistry

Alcohol is a highly diverse chemical class of organic compounds that contain one or more hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups bound to a carbon atom. Alcohols are classified into primary, secondary (sec-, s-), and tertiary (tert-, t-) alcohols, based upon the number of carbon atoms connected to the carbon atom that bears the hydroxyl functional group.

List of psychoactive alcohols

See also: Comparison of psychoactive alcohols in alcoholic drinks

Compound	R1	R2	R3	Structure
Methanol	H	H	H
Ethanol (Alcohol)	CH3	H	H
1-Propanol	CH2CH3	H	H
2-Methyl-1-propanol (2M1P)	CH(CH3)2	H	H
2-Methyl-1-butanol (2M1B)	CH(CH3)CH2CH3	H	H
3-Methyl-1-butanol (3M1B)	CH2CH(CH3)2	H	H
2-Phenylethanol	CH2C6H5	H	H
Isopropanol	CH3	CH3	H
2-Methyl-2-propanol (2M2P)	CH3	CH3	CH3
2-Methyl-2-butanol (2M2B)	CH2CH3	CH3	CH3
Methylpentynol	CCH	CH2CH3	CH3
Ethchlorvynol	CCH	CH=CHCl	CH2CH3
UMB68	CH2CH2C(OH)=O	CH3	CH3
Tryptophol	CH2C(=CHNH)C6H4	H	H