The accidental fermentation of a
mixture of water and fruit in sunlight is thought to have led to the first
discovery of an alcoholic drink by a prehistoric people. Evidence of intentionally fermented beverages
exists in the form of stone age beer jugs dated as early as the Neolithic
period (10000B.C.E). Other jugs have
been excavated in Southwest Asia and North Africa.
Alcoholic beverages have been an
integral part of many cultures, used as a source of nutrition, in meals, for
celebrations and also in religious ceremonies.
Alcohol can give a sense of wellbeing but also acts as a depressant,
lowering behavioral inhibitions.
Alcohol consumption became a
status symbol for the wealthy. During
the Midle ages, concoctions were distilled to produce spirits. Alcohol has also
served as a thirst quencher when water was polluted. In the 1700s, home-brewing processes were
replaced by commercially made beer and wine, which became important for the economics
of Europe.
Beer was the first known
alcoholic beverage, but many others have been produced since then. The Chinese are thought to have produced
yellow wine 4000 years ago. In Europe
the monasteries owned the best vineyards; French monks produced a sparkling
wine, which was named after the Champagne region of France. Brandy is supposed to have been accidentally
discovered when a Dutch trader tried
boiling wine to remove the water and save cargo space. (Brandewijn means “burnt
wine” in Dutch).
