Which statement most accurately describes how the ethanol found in alcoholic beverages is produced?

• A. Ethanol is produced when yeast ferments carbohydrates, generating ethanol as a metabolic byproduct.
• B. Ethanol forms spontaneously when starch molecules are heated in the presence of light, a non-biological chemical conversion process occurring during brewing.
• C. Ethanol in drinks is primarily synthesized industrially from petroleum derivatives and then blended into beverages to control potency.
• D. Ethanol is created when atmospheric oxygen oxidizes sugars in beverages during long-term storage, producing alcohol over months and years.

Answer: (A)