Chapter 4 Cultural aspects: illustrations of alcohol use in literature

Chapter 3 Cultural aspects: representations of alcohol use in visual art

This chapter traces the history of alcohol consumption from ancient times to the present. Alcoholic drinks have been produced and consumed by humans for thousands of years and have played an important role in religion; supplying nutrition and energy; providing medicinal, antiseptic, and analgesic benefits; quenching thirst; facilitating relaxation; promoting conviviality and social cohesion; increasing the pleasure of eating; providing pharmacological pleasure; and generally enhancing the quality and pleasures of life. The functions of alcoholic drinks in society have often been highly controversial and the subject of great debate. Illustrative of this was the establishment and later retraction of nationwide prohibitions of alcohol in many countries over the past century. Still today, there exists a conflict of views as to whether alcohol is an attractive elixir or a dangerous poison.

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