Let me see if my memory banks are currently working.

Ethel (ethyl) 70%: Commonly referred to as grain alcohol. In this form it is drinkable (for those who drink), but at least in the US is taxable and a controlled substance (no one under the age of 21 can have it in their procession / some states or jurisdictions “to have an open container” or “to have consumed”). To get around this restriction and the taxable nature, companies will “denature” with (IIRC) acetone, making it severely toxic to ingest.


Isopropal (Isopropyl) 70% this concentration is generally what is used to “disinfect” or prepare a site for injection. Non-taxable and not a controlled substance. Toxic to ingest. I just grabbed a “preinjection skin cleansing pad” for the lab and it is “saturated with 70% isopropyl alcohol”


Isopropal (Isopropyl) 90% (or 95%, I forget) this concentration is generally used to make up various laboratory reagents for use in a variety of testing including PCR testing.

There is also an absolute ethyl alcohol (100& or 200 proof) laboratory grade available, which is taxable (nontaxable for use in the lab), but is a controlled substance that whose use requires the use of a usage logbook.

Pete