Alcohol has had its ups and downs over time, but mostly it's been ups. Going all the way back to ancient China, there are wine jars dating to 7000 B.C. that show wine was being created from fermented fruit, rice and honey.
In ancient Egypt, there are more signs of the use of alcohol back to 4000 B.C. It seems beer was a staple in the diet, much like bread would be considered later on. It was made in homes daily, and considered one of the foods of life. The Egyptians also learned how to create wines, as depicted on paintings found in the region. The Egyptians worshiped Osiris, one of their gods who represented wine.
In 2,700 B.C. Babylonians appreciated their alcohol, worshiping wine gods and goddesses as they drank and up offered beer and wine. In India, alcoholic beverages made of rice meal were created and used by the population between 3000 B.C. and 2000 B.C. On the other side of the planet, Native American carvings show many of their civilizations had alcoholic beverages that were much like the beers of today.
Alcoholic drinks, such as beer, were also very popular in Europe. Often it was much safer to drink distilled items than it was to drink water, as the water could have been contaminated with sewage and other garbage. Alcoholic drinks throughout Europe and other locations continued to be popular, until a few instances where it was deemed necessary to control consumption.
After efforts to up spirit production in Britain, the use of gin went so high, the parliament saw fit to limit it. In the early 1900s a similar thing happened in America. Prohibition went into effect, outlawing the sale of alcohol. But the trend didn't last long. It was repealed in the 1930s
