Rubbing alcohol

Rubbing alcohol, also known as surgical spirit in some regions, refers to a group of denatured alcohols commonly used as topical antiseptics. These solutions are primarily composed of either isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) or ethanol, with isopropyl alcohol being the more widely available formulation. Rubbing alcohol is rendered undrinkable by the addition of bitterants or other denaturants.

In the British Pharmacopoeia, the equivalent product is called surgical spirit. Beyond antiseptic uses, rubbing alcohol has various industrial and household applications. In North American English, the term "rubbing alcohol" generally encompasses both isopropyl and ethanol-based products.^{[citation needed]}

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) defines "isopropyl rubbing alcohol USP" as containing approximately 70 percent alcohol by volume of pure isopropyl alcohol and defines "rubbing alcohol USP" as containing approximately 70 percent by volume of denatured alcohol.^[1][2] In Ireland and the UK, the comparable preparation is surgical spirit B.P., which the British Pharmacopoeia defines as 95% methylated spirit, 2.5% castor oil, 2% diethyl phthalate, and 0.5% methyl salicylate.^[3] Under its alternative name of "wintergreen oil", methyl salicylate is a common additive to North American rubbing alcohol products.^[4] Individual manufacturers are permitted to use their own formulation standards in which the ethanol content for retail bottles of rubbing alcohol is labeled as and ranges from 70 to 99% v/v.^[5]

All rubbing alcohols are unsafe for human consumption: isopropyl rubbing alcohols do not contain the ethyl alcohol of alcoholic beverages; ethyl rubbing alcohols are based on denatured alcohol, which is a combination of ethyl alcohol and one or more bitter poisons that make the substance toxic.