Why can’t we drink industrial ethanol diluted to, say, 15%, but we can drink ethanol made from yeast?

Question

Why can’t we drink industrial ethanol diluted to, say, 15%, but we can drink ethanol made from yeast?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Depends what you mean.

It is possible to get ‘lab grade’ alcohol that is high percentage and uncontaminated.

However, most ‘industrial alcohol’ is actually denatured alcohol, where the ethanol is mixed with chemicals that produce a rather vigorous physical response.

These chemicals can’t be distilled out, and remain effective be even when significantly diluted.

So there’s no easy or safe way to acquire industrial alcohol and drink it, even though it is still ethanol.