Alcoholexistsinmanycultures.Peopledrinkformanyreasons.Theydrinktocelebrate.Theydrinktorelax.Theydrinkwithmeals.Theydrinkatparties.Alcoholispartofsociallife.Itsstoryisoldandlong.

Ancientpeoplemadealcoholfromfruitsandgrains.Theydiscoveredfermentation.Grapesbecamewine.Honeybecamemead.Grainsbecamebeer.Thesedrinkswereimportant.Theyweresaferthandirtywater.Theyhadcalories.Theywereusedinreligion.Godsweregivenwine.Beerwasofferedinrituals.Alcoholconnectedpeopletotheirgods.

InEgypt,beerwaseverydayfood.Workersgotbeeraspayment.Pharaohswereburiedwithbeer.InGreece,winewascentraltolife.Theyhadagodforwine,Dionysus.Symposiaweredrinkingparties.Mentalkedaboutphilosophyandpolitics.Theydilutedwinewithwater.Drinkingpurewinewasseenasbarbaric.InRome,winespreadwiththeempire.Romansplantedvineyardseverywhere.Wineshowedstatus.Finewinewasfortherich.Cheapwinewasforthepoor.

Chinahasalonghistorywithalcohol.Earlypeoplemadewinefromrice.Itwasusedinancestorworship.Duringdynasties,poetswroteaboutdrinking.LiBailovedhiswine.Hispoemsoftenmentionit.Winebroughtinspiration.InJapan,sakeissacred.ItisusedinShintoceremonies.Thebrewingprocessiscarefulandrespectful.

TheMiddleAgessawmonksmakingalcohol.Theyneededwineformass.Theybrewedbeertodrink.Theirmonasterieshadcleanwaterandgrains.Theybecameskilledbrewers.Theykeptknowledgealive.Invillages,beerwascommon.Waterwasoftenunsafe.Beerwasadailydrinkformany,evenchildren.Itwasweakandnutritious.

Distillationchangedeverything.Arabsfirstdistilledperfumesandmedicines.Europeanslearnedtodistillalcohol.Theymadespirits.Brandy,whisky,andginappeared.Spiritswerestrong.Theydidnotspoil.Theycouldtravelonships.TheAgeofExplorationusedspirits.Sailorstookrumonlongvoyages.Itpreventedscurvy.Itwastradegoods.Alcoholbecameglobal.

Colonialtimestiedalcoholtoeconomy.EuropeansmaderumwithCaribbeansugar.Theytradedrumforslaves.Slaverybroughtsugartomakemorerum.Itwasaterriblecycle.InAmerica,whiskeywascurrency.Farmersturnedcornintowhiskey.Itwaseasiertotransport.Taxesonwhiskeycausedrebellion.

Socialliferevolvesaroundalcohol.PubsinEnglandarecommunitycenters.Peoplemeetfriends.Theytalkandsharenews.InRussia,vodkaisfortoasting.Theysay"nazdorovie".Toastsarelongandmeaningful.InSpain,peoplegototapasbars.Theyhavesmallfoodwithwineorbeer.Itisasocialritual.InGermany,beergardensareforfamilies.Theydrinklargebeers.Theyeatpretzelsandsausages.

Francevalueswinewithfood.Wineisnotjustadrink.Itispartofthemeal.Itcomplementsthetasteofcheeseandmeat.Childrentastewineearly.Theylearnrespectforit.Italyhasasimilarculture.Wineislikefood.Itisnormalandeveryday.

Alcoholcausesproblemstoo.Drunkennessisancient.Societiesmaderules.Somereligionsforbidalcohol.Islamprohibitsit.SomeProtestantgroupsavoidit.Temperancemovementsgrew.Theysawalcoholruinfamilies.Theyfoughtforprohibition.Americabannedalcoholinthe1920s.Itdidnotworkwell.Crimeincreased.Thelawwasrepealed.

Today,sciencestudiesalcohol.Moderatedrinkingmayhavebenefits.Redwinehasantioxidants.Itmighthelptheheart.Butheavydrinkingisdangerous.Itdamagestheliver.Itcausesaddiction.Itleadstoaccidents.Governmentsmakelaws.Theysetdrinkingages.Theytaxalcohol.Theywarnabouthealthrisks.

Craftmovementsarepopularnow.Smallbreweriesmakeuniquebeers.Smalldistilleriesproducelocalspirits.Peopleenjoyvariety.Theyvaluetraditionandquality.Homebrewingisahobby.Peoplemaketheirownbeerorwine.Itisaboutcreativityandsharing.

Alcoholiscomplex.Itbringspeopletogether.Itispartofcelebrationandceremony.Itcausesjoyandsorrow.Itshistorymirrorshumanhistory.Itshowsoursocialnature,ourrituals,ourproblems,andourcreativity.Alcoholismorethanadrink.Itisapartofculture,forbetterorworse.