History of Alcohol, Values and Legislation

Abstract

Alcohol contains ethanol (pure alcohol: C_zH₆O). The strength of the spirit, wine or beer depends upon the amount of ethanol in the drink. And it is often thought that if alcohol were invented today, it would be classed as illegal, due to its properties to change behaviour, the damage it does to a person’s health and the social risks that it can cause. However, through nine millennia it has helped societies form communities; pay for crusades; helped us celebrate weddings, births, and graduations; and it is involved in virtually all forms of society, in one way or another. This chapter will explore how governments, lobbyists, activists, religion and celebrities have contributed to the role alcohol plays in our day-to-day lives. It begins with the age old question: ‘Which came first beer or bread?’, and discusses when alcohol became a ‘problem’ and how legislation has developed. The chapter sets the scene for the remainder of the book, which explores government intervention, alcohol problems in society, alcoholism as a disease, the social responsibilities of the alcohol industry, religious perspectives, and the part that the many stakeholders play in trying to control alcohol consumption and enable a positive community context for it.