Social Drinking

Social Drinking; Why Do We Drink Spoiled Liquids?

A touchy subject for sure, one which I nagged about, worried about, and fiercely taught about under the D.A.R.E. program at Carnelian Elementary School. I'm fairly certain that all my "ravings" fell on disinterested ears. I think this is the first time I've ever written down my thoughts on this subject, and not sure why I needed to today, January 1, 2016. Perhaps it was the flow of beverages at the party we attended last night, or the number of accidents reported on the news today.  Whatever, here it is.

Both my parents were alcoholics. That fact alone shaded how I reacted to drinking all these fermented fluids.  I witnessed first hand how alcohol changed a person's personality and reactions to others.  A funny and loving father changed into an angry and hateful person who caused me to tremble; a beautiful, happy mother became irrational and cruel, a fearsome woman to be avoided if possible. Most adults in my life were drinkers who slurred their words, spent nights in jail for DUI, and engaged in horrific arguments while "under the influence."

Experts say the tendency to alcoholism is inherited, and I, admittedly, have been scared to death it would happen to me. At least one of my mom and dad's grandchildren has been severely impacted by alcohol abuse.

Some feel the key is moderation, and many of our acquaintances drink moderately.  Many probably have some each day, and may not be sure where the line of moderation and addiction is drawn.  I know my mom began having "one little drink" with her work buddies daily during the war, and she fought a lifetime temptation. After she quit in 1952, she never drank again, but felt if she did, she'd slip back into drinking. My husband suffers migraines and doctors have told him one glass of red wine would give him an instant headache.

Aside from the negative effects on me of even a glass of wine (my head seems to lean to one side and everything becomes hysterical) thinking about what makes them causes a bit of nausea. I remember asking my school students if they would reach into their garbage disposal and eat something, to which they would all gag and scream, "NO!" Every alcoholic beverage is made from something spoiled which doesn't appeal to me.  Yes, a touchy subject for sure, but just my opinions and experiences.

Here's a partial Wikipedia list of of fermented beverages:

Beverages by raw material[edit]

For micro-organisms, see List of microorganisms used in food and beverage preparation and yeast in winemaking.

The names of some alcoholic beverages are determined by their raw material.

Grains

Name of fermented beverage

Name of distilled beverage

barley

beer, ale, barley wine

Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, shōchū (mugijōchū) (Japan)

rye

rye beer, kvass

rye whiskey, vodka (Poland), Korn (Germany)

corn

chicha, corn beer, tesguino

Bourbon whiskey, moonshine, also vodka (rare)

sorghum

burukutu (Nigeria), pito (Ghana), merisa (southern Sudan), bilibili(Chad, Central African Republic, Cameroon)

maotai, gaoliang, certain other types of baijiu (China).

wheat

wheat beer

horilka (Ukraine), vodka, wheat whiskey, weizenkorn (Germany)

rice

beer, brem (Bali), huangjiu and choujiu (China), Ruou gao(Vietnam), sake (Japan), sonti (India), makgeolli and chungju(Korea), tuak (Borneo Island), thwon (Nepal)

aila (Nepal), rice baijiu (China), shōchū (komejōchū) and awamori (Japan), soju (Korea)

millet

millet beer (Sub-Saharan Africa), tongba (Nepal, Tibet), boza (the Balkans, Turkey)

buckwheat

shōchū (sobajōchū) (Japan)

Fruit juice

Name of fermented beverage

Name of distilled beverage

grapes

wine

brandy, Cognac (France), Vermouth, Armagnac (France), Branntwein (Germany), pisco (Peru, Chile, Grozdova), Rakia (The Balkans, Turkey), singani (Bolivia), Arak (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan), törkölypálinka (Hungary)

apples

cider (U.S.: "hard cider"), Apfelwein

applejack (or apple brandy), calvados, cider

pears

perry, or pear cider; poiré (France)

Poire Williams, pear brandy, Eau-de-vie (France), pálinka (Hungary), Krushova rakia / Krushevitsa (Bulgaria)

plums

plum wine

slivovitz, țuică, umeshu, pálinka, Slivova rakia / Slivovitsa (Bulgaria)

apricots

Kaisieva rakia (Bulgaria), pálinka (Hungary)

pineapples

tepache (Mexico), Pineapple Wine (Hawaii)

juniper berries

gin, borovička (Slovakia)