Alcohol: The World's Favorite Drug

by Griffith Edwards

Alcohol is everywhere. Walk down any street in the western world and before long your feet will kick against an empty beer can, or your attention will be captured by an alluring advertisement that suggests that alcohol can magically transform your life. Its use is integral to many aspects of popular culture, but it is also a substance that has at times been preached against and even prohibited.

In this book, Griffith Edwards uses both history and chemistry to explore the whole issue of alcohol. Is it medicine, a delightful potion, poison, or a mysterious combination of all three? What part has alcohol played in various cultures and religions? Why do different people behave differently when drunk? What cures for habitual inebriation were popular in the past? Why is alcoholism considered a disease? What is "safe drinking"? Is alcohol good for the heart? Do current treatments work? Does Alcoholics Anonymous have the answer?

Armed with the best solid information science, history, and sociology have to offer, Edwards asks how, in the light of this knowledge, society might in the future better handle this pleasure-giving, somewhat dangerous drug. Can society get its pleasure out of alcohol without the inevitable suffering that accompanies misuse? If so, what steps should we take to protect ourselves and others?

Already considered in England to be a classic in the field, Alcohol will prove to be fascinating reading for the drinker and nondrinker alike.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Figured this would be another in the microhistory genre only with the focus on alcohol.

And it seems like it brushes the topic but there is more focus on what alcohol is as a chemical and the social circumstances. Fermentation and distillation. How to figure blood concentration and the fact that it is a poison - people have died from drinking too much. And that's just the beginning of the topics that Edwards touches on.

-Myths and metaphors - the religious and the favored national drinks like French wine and British ale. Pubs and inns for the social contexts.
- How society has viewed drunkenness and how it has changed over the centuries.
- Racism and drunken behavior stereotypes, namely that blacks and native Americans can't hold their liquor.
- Dependence and addiction. Research into the 'always an alcoholic . . . . '
- The American experiment of Prohibition
- Determining that alcoholism is a disease and later goes into the creation and uses for AA.
- Treatments including sanatoriums and ECT (electro-shock treatments) and surgery. And the treatments that have been proven to work - abstinence and personal motivation.
- Alcohol as a medicine - mostly pre-antibiotics and even now, brandy is given for shock, red wine for the heart and whiskey for a cold.
- The drinkers dilemma whether to risk the physical diseases, accidents and social consequences.
- And lastly - the future of alcohol consumption which unless another drug of choice - with fewer consequences and medical ramifications - will continue to be part of society. Yes, cannabis was mentioned but the book was published in 2002 so there are two decades of research and societal consideration not included.

Not quite what I had in mind but certainly an interesting overview.

2022-288

[Chase Parsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alcohol’s chemistry, history, and controversy are all spelled out in this worthwhile read. My favorite parts were about its lengthy (and often lesser known) history: religious influences, pubs, gin palaces and the introduction of hard alcohol, prohibition, Alcoholics Anonymous, and more are all explored. The evils of the drug are also a big part of Dr. Edwards’ honest discussion about the drug, but he is never preachy.

A solid book overall but I’d say “very good” more than “great” for two reasons. First, some of the writing could have been more fluid. Next and more significantly, there was a ton of analysis of different alcoholism studies towards the end of the book. The studies were fascinating, but some of the explanations were too lengthy. The reader definitely gets the impression that the author is a medical doctor and has studied alcohol and alcoholism extensively though! A very good book that lays the facts out.

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

My 2 star mark may not really be fair. This book is mostly comparisons with alcohol and how people all over the world drink it, and facts of alcohol drinking on individuals. I think I was actually looking for something less factual & more advice/self help. Took me a long time to finish. It did have some interesting information.

[P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would've given this five stars if it weren't part of that recent glut of books (Salt, Mauve, etc.) that talk about how some random thing "changed the world". Otherwise a very handy book to have read after your fourth or fifth beer, when the talk turns philosophical/trivial.

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

great intro text