A Toast of History

Alcohol is available throughout the world. Not all people could drink it but it has become a staple drink to most countries. It is especially abused by adults and teenagers which is very alarming. Alcohol has changed drastically throughout the years before it became the drink we know and love today. And now, let’s take a look at the rich history of alcohol.

Mead is thought to be one of the oldest alcoholic beverages known to man. It

was most likely discovered by accident around 8000B.C. Then in 3000B.C,

alcohol was prevalent in ancient Egypt, especially in the form of beer. Beer was

made from barley, honey, herbs and spices, and was drunk in preference to

water. Also, wine was the drink of the wealthy, as it was an

exotic commodity in ancient times. During this time, both beer and wine were used as carriers for medicines. Furthermore, in 500 A.D monasteries were renowned as places

of refuge for travelers seeking a safe, clean place with decent food and drink. Monks during this time grew or traded their food and they made their own drinks, thus beer

and wine were readily available at monasteries. In 800 A.D. the process of distillation was invented and Abu Musa Jabir ibn Hayyan, an Arabic alchemist designed

the alembic pot still, a contraption that allowed for the effective distillation of

alcohol. In fact, the first documented use of distilled alcohol comes from a 12th century

Italian medical school, not a bar. In addition, the first bottle of beer was sold during 1850 but using bottles to contain beer was uncommon during that time, as beer was dispensed from kegs in taverns and inns and bottles were relatively rare and expensive. The types of bottles used for bottling beer in the earliest days would have been the common heavy black glass utilitarian bottles of the era which were used for various liquid products. Lastly, during the Civil War, whiskey and other forms of alcohol were used to treat wounds and diseases. Ether, a combination of alcohol and sulfuric acid was also a common anesthetic during the war. Today, alcohol related accidents or fatalities are common in our society and because of this we should always be careful whenever we drink alcoholic beverages especially those who are underaged since alcohol abuse can lead to serious health issues. That is why we should always remember to “Drink Responsibly”.

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