Common Use Of Alcoholic Beverages example essay topic

dogs are cool. they smell good. they fart, and they eat a lot of food. dogs are also very hairy. sometimes their hair is brown, sometimes it is white, and still other times is is black... have you ever seen a dog with no i sae a ah shf jd f d i sae dj that t you a re so coll red whit e are yu happy rocco is cool collin so conf f dj fn j j dfjlkfjALCOHOLISM There are many social issues facing the United States today that affect the world in different ways. One of the most popular as well as severe issues confronting our nation today is alcoholism. The question seems to be: is alcoholism simply and individualistic problem, or is it a disease capable of wiping out friendships, families, and possibly much of the United States? In order to fully understand the severity of alcoholism and its effects, one must study the problem from an interdisciplinary level. Specifically, a historical, and psycho-sociological perspectives will help to understand alcoholism the best. First one must understand what exactly alcoholism is, and whom it effects.

By definition, alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease, with genetic, psychological, and environmental factors, characterized by continuous impaired control over drinking. The disease can and does effect all people of all ages, sexes, races, and economic status. This is clearly a horrific issue, and is not just simply an individualistic problem. It is a disease that can devastate everything in its path. How long ago did the age of alcoholism begin? Who were the first people to begin consuming alcoholic beverages?

How were alcoholic beverages invented? These questions will help one to understand alcoholism from a historical perspective. It is documented that man discovered alcohol during prehistoric times. Prehistoric man probably stumbled upon the discovery by accident, since alcohol is pretty easy to prepare. It is just the natural fermentation of sugary plants. Paleo-botanists are not exactly sure which plant was originally used for this.

However, there are many indications that point toward grapes. Grapevines as the legends tell us provides fruit that could be consumed as grapes, raisins, and cultivated into a drink of magical properties and potency: "One that relieved fatigue and assuaged pain, evoked gaiety, enhanced bravery, promoted friendship, and even facilitated communion with the invisible spirits that seemed to control mankind's fate". (Keller 7) As one could gather from this statement alcohol was for the most part consumed for one reason: to relax, socialize, and ease away the stress of everyday life. The same reasons that lead up to the evolution of alcoholism. Alcohol was used for other reasons aside from achieving a relaxed state. Infact it played a major role in religion.

From birth to funeral, in all public happenings, feasts, holidays, peacemaking, and medicine, alcoholic beverages became a common site. Archeological records of the earliest civilizations such as Africa, China, India, America's, and Europe all point to the importance of these beverages through murals and wall paintings. As Christian civilization established itself in Europe, alcohol was not very popular, and it was not opposed by the Christian culture. However, drunkenness was condemned. Despite being considered as a sin, drunkenness was quite common. As time progressed forward so did the common use of alcoholic beverages.

When world war I broke out, the proportion of intoxicated women increased. However, the number of alcoholic women dropped off after the war. This fact does prove that alcohol use was growing rapidly, since now women were subjected to it. As years went by obviously the popularity of alcohol rose, but people also began to realize the negative aspects of drinking.

Many research groups began conducting experiments to see just how harmful to the body alcohol consumption was. The Committee of Fifty performed a fifteen year long task to investigate the problems that come with consuming alcohol over extended periods of time. Other groups such as the: Research Council on Problems of Alcohol also worked on finding out just how severe the negative aspects of alcohol consumption could be. dk j.