Maceration Process of making liqueurs and aromatised wines by steeping fruit / herbs in alcohol.

Macrocytosis Type of anaemia ofen related to high alcohol intake and poor diet (especially deficiency of folic acid). Characterised by raised mean cell volume (- increased size of red blood cells).

MADD Acronym for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Madeira Fortified dessert wine from Madeira island. Aged in heated warehouses for six months.

Magnum Large wine bottle about twice the size of an ordinary bottle. Often used for champagne.

Maine Law First state-wide prohibition law in U.S. Passed in 1851.

Malaga Dessert wine from Malaga, Spain.

Malmsey Type of Madeira wine.

Malt 1. Beer. 2. Barley that has germinated. First stage in making beer. 3. To drink beer.

Malt Liquor Alcoholic beverage made from malt with a higher alcohol and sweeter taste content than beer.

Mandarine Liqueur made from tangerines.

Maraschino Italian liqueur made from cherries.

Marasquin Cherry-flavoured Dutch liqueur.

Marc Low quality French brandy.

Marsala Dessert wine from Italy.

Martini Mixed drink made with gin, vermouth, and bitters.

Mash The mixture of cereal and water before fermentation in beer and whiskey production.

Mashing Tub, Mashing Tun Tub in which mash is placed so that starches and proteins will be broken down prior to brewing.

MAST Acronym for Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test.

Maturation The time given for alcohol to improve in quality - e.g. beer in casks.

Mead Wine made from honey and herbs.

Meitei-sho Drunkenness without alcohol consumption. Caused by a normal intestinal yeast, Candida albicans, that is very high in a small minority of individuals and causes intestinal carbohydrates to be transformed into alcohol.

Mescalin Mexican spirit made from peyote cactus.

Metabolism Biochemical process by which alcohol is broken down. First breakdown product or metabolite of alcohol is acetaldehyde.

Methanol (Methyl Alcohol) Toxic higher alcohol / fusel oil also known as wood alcohol.

Methylated Spirits Alcohol denatured by the addition of methanol, naphtha and pyridine.

Methuselah Large wine bottle with the capacity of eight normal wine bottles.

Mezcal Mexican spirit distilled from Blue Maguey cactus.

Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) Question and answer test for deciding if someone is an alcoholic.

Mickey Finn Alcoholic drink to which chloral hydrate has been added.

Mild Dark beer brewed mainly in the Midlands and Northern England.

Mint Julep Cocktail made from bourbon, sugar and mint leaves.

Mirabelle French brandy made from cherry plums.

Mission Rehabilitation centre for homeless men, many of whom are alcoholics.

Moonshine 1. Alcohol product on which no taxes have been paid. 2. Whiskey, usually cheap, containing a high alcohol content and produced at home. Usually used in reference to whiskey made from corn or rye, or brandy made from apples or peaches.

Morning Bitters Popular eighteenth century drink in southern U.S. made with rum, brandy, whiskey, and bitter bark of trees. Consumed on a regular basis as an alcohol beverage and to ward off malaria.

Morse, Gordon R. Author of the book "Detoxification"

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Community action group organised to change laws against drunk driving.

Mull Process of heating drinks flavoured with spices, lemon and beaten eggs.

Mulled 1. Heated wine drinks. 2. Drunk.

Mumbo Popular drink in early America made with rum, water, and lumps of sugar.

Muscatel A sweet wine from Spain.

Must Grape juice that has not completely fermented.