Assign students research topics on different components of alcohol in regard to science. Some examples of topics include medical knowledge and alcoholism, how alcohol is defined as either a crime or a disease, misconceptions about alcohol and its use, or the composition of different types of alcohol. Have the students conduct their research on the Internet, online school databases or in books at the library. Their assignment should be to write a research paper.
Have students conduct experiments on alcohol that are not necessarily related to either their positive or detrimental effects. Visit Julian T. Rubin's "Beverages & Drinks Science Fair Projects" (juliantrubin.com/fairprojects/food/beverages.html) for complete instructions on a wide variety of topics. Possible experiment ideas include figuring out which type of alcohol has the most sugar in it, yeast and alcohol production, the process of fermenting wine, and the various ways in which people make beer.
Assign each students or group of students various way in which alcohol affects human health. Topics to include are effects on the brain, heart, liver, lungs, skin, and other body parts, as well as how alcohol affects mental and emotional health. The students should interview specialists in the field, speak to people who suffered consequences of alcohol, and conduct research to prepare their presentations to the rest of the class.
Require the students to put together a visual aid to present what they learned about alcohol. The ideas are quite broad. For example; some students offer a PowerPoint presentation of the science behind how alcohol is made, with each slide representing a different step. Other students can show two images side by side. One of them may be of a healthy organ, and the other of that organ after it suffered the consequences of alcohol abuse.