Ethyl Alcohol

Ethyl Alcohol, chemical formula CH3CH2OH, sometimes simply known as Alcohol, is a drug used by both humans and Prophets. It has several medicinal uses, but is most well known for its intoxicating effects (it can be used as a depressant), and as such is used in a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, for example, the ancient Human beverage Beer is a standard drug carried aboard UNSC starships and facilities. It is a flammable, colorless, mildly toxic chemical compound with a distinctive perfume-like odor, and is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It has a number of medical uses as well. While these were never specifically mentioned, historical earth armies used ethyl alcohol (and alcoholic beverages) as an antiseptic and general anesthetic. This being so, it is very possible the UNSC continues this use when better alternatives are unavailable. The Covenant also possessed alcohol or a very similar intoxicant.

Corporal Locklear was very aware of these facts, and managed to find the Medicinal Grade MED34-CH3CH2OH alcohol stores on the UNSC Gettysburg shortly before his death in the explosion of the Forerunner Crystal.

Trivia

 * The Prophet of Regret, then the Vice Minister of Tranquility, once showed up drunk to a meeting with the Minister of Fortitude.
 * The San 'Shyuum, and probably other species, drink a liquid to make them sober when drunk.