What is the chemical symbol for beverage alcohol?

The chemical symbol for beverage alcohol is represented by ETOH, which stands for ethanol, the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol is classified as a simple alcohol with the molecular formula C2H5OH. The ETOH abbreviation is derived from the chemical structure: the "Et" refers to the ethyl group (C2H5), and "OH" indicates the presence of a hydroxyl group, which is characteristic of alcohols.

Understanding that ethanol is the primary ingredient in alcoholic drinks helps contextualize its importance in discussions related to sobriety and impairment. Other options such as H2O (water), CO2 (carbon dioxide), and CH3OH (methanol) represent different substances that don’t pertain to beverage alcohol in this context. Water is essential for life but has no intoxicating effects, carbon dioxide plays a role in various biological processes but is not an alcohol, and methanol is actually a toxic alcohol that should not be consumed. Thus, ETOH is the correct symbol when referring specifically to the type of alcohol that is typically found in beverages.