The under mentioned excerpt was taken from an Islamic site's definition of what constitutes 'Halaal': "With specific reference to ethanol, it would be

Answer

Ethanol is used in almost all manufactured items today. There is hardly anything which is free from this substance. The 'excerpt' is basically correct. Provided that the alcohol is not derived from grapes or dates, the items contaminated with ethanol could be used externally, not for consumption.

Coke, soft drinks and other edibles which contain ethanol are not permissible regardless of the miniscule quantity.

There is no Shariah substantiation for the .05% level. Since the items, will be used for external application, the quantity is irrelevant. Those who have fixed this limit are devious and dishonest. The reason why they selected this limit without any Shar'i evidence, is because the quantity of ethanol in soft drinks such as coke, etc. is always less than 0.05%. Since they love to consume these drinks. They are trading the laws of Allah Ta'ala for a miserable price.

Also, if no halaal medicine is available, then medicine containing the ethanol may be used.

"Public predicament" in this context means extensive and intensive prevalence and utilization by the masses coupled with the provision that no 100% halaal substitute is available. For example, if all the water entering our homes is contaminated, and we have no other water except this contaminated water, then in the circumstances it will constitute 'public predicament' which renders the water permissible.