Alcohol and liquor have a long and storied history. It’s been in existence for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Humans have consumed it in different forms for so long. Some people drink to celebrate or socialize. Others use it to cope with heavy losses or stressors. Let’s explore the history behind this popular drink and investigate why we still consume it today.
The History of Alcohol and Liquors
The history of alcohol dates back to ancient times. It’s believed that wine was first consumed around 9000 BC in China. Records indicate its existence in Egypt and Mesopotamia over 6000 years ago.
Alcohol is produced by fermenting sugar or starch through yeast. It makes sense that early humans started with grapes because they have high levels of natural sugars. However, people began experimenting with other forms of fermentation pretty fast. This was after realizing how much fun you could have while drinking this concoction. Some well-known examples include beer (4000 BC), mead (3500 BC) cider (2740 BC), sake/rice wine (1500BC), pulque (2000BC) and wine. Over the years, people worldwide have found different ways to produce alcohol and drink it.
It’s been popular in many religions. In Christianity, alcohol is mentioned in the Bible. “Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.” -Proverbs 31:67-68. In Islam, the Qu’ran forbids Muslims from drinking. They are different views in Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
Why We Still Drink It
Some cultures believed that their deities bestowed them with this magical liquid to use to communicate with them. The ritualistic nature behind these practices makes sense. This is especially when considering how much history there is between humans and alcohol.
Today, alcohol is still popular all over the world. Some people are even using non-alcoholic beer from liquor stores to replace real beer. They want to limit their drinking or avoid getting drunk due to other medications. Some cultures use it for religious purposes. Others drink simply because of the intoxicating effects. Now, alcohol is consumed by people worldwide in different forms and used for a variety of reasons. Some people have positive reasons for drinking alcohol, while others use it for some negative reasons.
Conclusion
Alcohol and liquors have been in existence from time immemorial. The history of alcohol dates back to ancient times. It’s believed that wine was first consumed around 9000 BC. Primarily, people drink it for leisure, religious reasons, and traditional rituals.