The term alcohol was first applied to the spirits of wine, ethyl alcohol, and now it refers to a series of substances with similar characteristics Ethyl alcohol is the active constituent of all intoxicating liquors obtained by the fermentation of saccharine materials. It is present in the form of esters in several volatile oils. It is now a days prepared in immense quantities, chiefly by fermentation and finds numerous industrial uses, and is also being used as a motor fuel. Alcohol is itself a raw material for chemicals, it is also a solvent. The use of alcohol as an exhilarating and intoxicating beverage is common throughout the world. Today, the fermented juice, obtained from several palms, has long been used by the poorer classes in India, has long been used by the poorer classes in India, and the distillation of spirit, arrack from fermented rice, toddy etc; has been known, since early times. Since the advent of the English into India, modern distilleries and breweries have been established in almost all the Provinces and important States. The potable spirits made are country spirit (arrack and spiced liquors), and liquors resembling, imported spirit (rum, gin, whisky, and brandy). Alcohol is used directly in the manufacture of several compounds such as ether, ethyl acetate, and other esters, acetic acid (vinegar), acetone, chloral, chloroform and iodoform. It is required for the manufacture of mercury fulminate which is largely used in detonators for explosives. It is a solvent in preparing T.N.T. Alcohol is also employed in the preparation of transparent soaps. Industrial ethanol is a mature market. However, due to the rapid growth in fuel ethanol, the market dynamics are actively changing. Key suppliers in this market include domestic and imported fermentation producers, as well as domestic and imported synthetic producers. Therefore, it is a good project for entrepreneurs to invest. Few Indian Major Players are as under • A P Met Engg. Ltd. • Agribiotech Industries Ltd. • Ammana Bio Pharma Ltd. • Andhra Petrochemicals Ltd. • Asansol Bottling & Packaging Co. Pvt. Ltd. • Asian Petroproducts & Exports Ltd. • Carew Phipson Ltd. • Chandigarh Distillers & Bottlers Ltd. • Cilson Organics Ltd. • Galaxy Oleo-Chem (India) Ltd. • Gujarat Soaps Ltd. • Gwalior Alcobrew Pvt. Ltd. • I F B Agro Inds. Ltd. • Khandoba Distilleries Ltd. • Kolhapur Sugar Mills Ltd. • M W P Ltd. • Maruti Organics Ltd. • Mohan Meakin Ltd. • National Industrial Corpn. Ltd. • Pampasar Distillery Ltd. • Patiala Distillers & Mfrs. Ltd. • Pioneer Distilleries Ltd. • Radico Khaitan Ltd. • Rishab Alchem India Pvt. Ltd. • Samsons Distilleries Pvt. Ltd. • Saraya Industries Ltd. • Sri Rama Distilleries Ltd. • Yeast Alco Enzymes Ltd.