The origin of the word is khamara which means to conceal or cover.  Wine made from the juice of grapes or dates was first called this because of the way it "covers" or impairs intelligence and sense.  The general category is all things which are muskir (from sakara which means to block) the best translation of which is "intoxicants".  Everything in the Qur'an and the Sunnah which refers to khamr - the original meaning of which is grape or date wine - applies to ALL intoxicants based on the hadith of the Prophet (sas):

"Kullu muskirin khamr"
"Every intoxicant is khamr"

There are some narrations of the Prophet (sas) which mention three categories of forbidden mind-altering substances:

• Al-Muskiraat:  Alcohol and anything else which produces states similar to drunkenness
• Al-Mukhaddiraat:  Substances which numb or suppress emotion and intellectual activity.  Heroin would be a perfect example of this category.
• Al-Mufattiraat:  Substances which make one lazy and diminish drive and motivation leaving one only desiring to be in the state induced by the drug.   Examples of this are marijuana and cocaine.

Of all of these, alcohol is by far the most serious.  It is the one forbidden by Allah specifically and by name and about which there can be no doubt whatsoever.  It is absolutely a forbidden substance.  Therefore, it cannot even be used for "medical" purposes such as using brandy to ward off the effects of extreme cold.   It cannot be owned, sold, transported or its value consumed by a Muslim.
Since the people were so accustomed to alcohol, Allah prohibited its possession, use, sale, etc. in stages.  At first, Allah even mentioned intoxicants along with some of the bounties which He bestows on his creation saying:

{Wa min thamaraati an-nakheeli wa al-a'naabi tattikhidhuna minhu sakaran wa rizqan hasanan.  Inna fiy dhalika la aayaatan li qaumin ya'qiloon.}

{And from the fruits of the palm and grapes from which you take intoxicants and good provision.  In that there is a sign to a people who think.} An-Nahl:67

Next, Allah introduced the Muslims to the truth that, while there may be some benefit in intoxicants, these benefits were far outweighed by their harm.  Allah said:

{Yas'aloonaka 'an al-khamri wa al-maisiri qul fihimaa ithmum kabeerun wa manaafi'u li an-naasi wa ithmuhumaa akbaru min naf'ihimaa wa yas'aloonaka ma dha yunfiqoon qul il-'afwa kadhalika yubayyinu Allahu lakum al-aayaati la'allakum tatafakkaroon.}

{They ask you about intoxicants and the lottery.  Say: In them is a great sin and some benefits for the people and their sin is greater than their benefit.   And they ask you what they should spend.  Say:  The excess.  Thus Allah makes His signs clear to you that perhaps you may think.}  Al-Baqarah:219

What I have translated as "lottery" is called in Arabic al-maisir.   This was a game of chance played for sections of slaughtered animals which were given to the needy (or possibly some portion of them).  This is similar to the state-run lotteries which are often justified by saying that some portion of the proceeds goes to education or some other good purpose.  Allah forbid this.  Games of chance done purely in hopes of personal gain are much more clearly forbidden in Islam.

After the above verse, a large number of the Muslims abandoned the drinking of wine after knowing that the sin of it was greater than its benefit.  However, it had not yet been forbidden and some Muslims continued to use it and even come to the prayer under its influence.  This is what Allah prohibted next:

{Yaa ayyuha alladhina aamanu laa taqrabu as-salaata wa antum sukaraa hattaa ta'lamu maa taquloona wa laa junuban illa 'aabiree sabeelin hattaa taghtasilu wa in kuntum mardhaa au 'alaa safarin au jaa'a ahadun minkum min al-ghaa'iti au laamastum an-nisaa'a falam tajidu maa'an fatayammamu sa'eedan tayyiban fa msahu bi wujuhikum wa aydeekum.   Inna Allaha kaana 'afuwan ghafooran.}

{O, you who believe to not come near the prayer while drunk until you know what you are saying nor in a state of impurity - except for one on a journey - until you bathe.  If you are sick or on a journey or one of you has come from the toilet or you have made contact with women and you cannot find water then go to a high, clean patch of ground and wipe your face and your hands.  Allah is surely forbearing, forgiving.} An-Nisaa:43

This left only the time between the Isha prayer and Fajr prayer and possibly between Fajr and Dhuhr when Muslims could possibly consume alcohol without violating the above verse.  This left very few of the Muslims indulging in Alcohol - those for whom leaving it was difficult.  They were given some more time until the final verse on the subject was communicated:

{Yaa ayyuha alladhina aamanu innama al-khamru wa al-maisiru wa al-ansaabu wa al-azlaamu rijzun min 'amali ash-shaitaani fa jtanibuhu la'allakum tuflihoon.}

{O, you who believe, intoxicants, lotteries, idols and divining arrows are nothing but filth from the work of the Shaitaan so keep away from them that perhaps you may succeed.}  Al-Ma'idah:90

The "divining arrows" (al-azlaam) mentioned in the verse were used in the lotteries (al-maisir) and also in other acts of fortune-telling or prediction.  Because every use of them was forbidden, they themselves were mentioned as forbidden.

The Prophet (sas) negated the attribute of belief (iman) from one engaged in various major sins.  The use of intoxicants is one of those major sins mentioned:

"Laa yazniy as-zaaniy heena yazniy wa huwa mu'min.  Wa laa yasriqu as-saariqu heena yasriqu wa huwa mu'min.  Wa laa yashrabu al-khamra heena yashrabuhaa wa huwa mu'min."

"The fornicator does not fornicate while fornicating and he is a believer.  And the thief does not steal while stealing and he is a believer.   And no one drinks wine while drinking wine and he is a believer.}  Bukhari & Muslim

In Paradise, those who make it there will find rivers of milk, honey and wine.   The wine of Paradise is perfect in every way.  Any good of any sort which is found in the worldly wine is in its perfect state in the wine of Paradise.  The wine of Paradise has not ill effects whatsoever - it is pleasure in its purest form.  If one squanders his chance by indulging in the intoxicants of this world, he will be forbidden ever tasing the wine of Paradise.  The Prophet (sas) said:

"Kullu muskirin khamrun.  Wa kullu muskirin haraamun.  Wa man shariba al-khamra fiy ad-dunyaa fa maata wa huwa yudminuhaa lam yashrabhaa tiy al-aakhira."

"Every intoxicant is "wine".  And every intoxicant is forbidden.  Whoever drinks wine in this world and dies as a user of it will not drink it in the hereafter."  Muslim & Bukhari

Just as the alcoholic substances are forbidden, likewise the trafficking in them.   If one deals in trafficking of intoxicants, his income is haraam to him.   He falls under the famous hadith about the traveller whose mount, clothing and food are from haraam.  The Prophet (sas) described how he lifted his hands in supplication to Allah and then commented saying:  "Fa annaa yustajaabu lahu?!"  "How could he ever be answered."

In the year of the conquest of Makka, the Prophet (sas) said:

"Inna Allaha 'azza wa jalla wa rasooluhu harrama bai'a al-khamra wa al-maitata wa al-khinzeera wa al-asnaama."

"Allah and his Messenger have forbidden the selling of intoxicants, dead (improperly killed) animals, pigs and idols."  Muslim & Bukhari

After saying this, he (sas) was asked:  "O Allah's Messenger, what about the fat of the dead animal?  It is used for sealing boats, softening leather and lighting lamps?  The Prophet (sas) answered:  "No, it is haraam."   Then, he (sas) went on to say:  "May Allah fight the Jews!   Allah forbid them some fats so they converted it, sold it, and ate its proceeds."

This is one of the most obvious prohibitions in Islam and it is such a shame to see so many Muslims becoming involved in its use, transportation and sale.  It seems to be a mass loss of intelligence and common sense.  Al-Hassan Al-Basri said:

"Lau kaana al-'aqlu yushtaraa lataghaala an-naasu fiy thamanihi.  Fa al-'ajabu mimman yashtariy bimaalihi maa yufsiduhu."

"If intelligence was for sale, people would pay higher and higher prices for it.  So isn't it amazing that someone could spend his wealth on that which destroys it!"