Philosophy of Alcohol

Two blocks from my home in Prague, Czech Republic, is my local pub. Once a week on average, I take a little table in the corner, converse with the owner and bartenders, and have a nice burger and beer. It is a part of my life — a pleasurable, brief escape from my 55-hour work week. There are those people who say I am wrong to do so. They contend that alcohol is evil and that the consumption of it should be prohibited. I understand where they are coming from, but for multiple reasons, I have to disagree.

Producing alcoholic beverages is as an activity as old as human civilization. In fact, there is some evidence that the production of beer sparked civilization. Even wine enthusiasts agree. Alcohol is deeply ingrained in human society. Obviously, one does not need to drink alcohol to have a good time, but the connection between alcohol and social occasions is one of the strongest elements of human society. Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and almost every other human ritual includes alcohol. Beer, wine, and spirits are an unnecessary, yet integral, part of human life.

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