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Until fairly recently alcohol also helped with the problem of contaminated water causing massive casualties eg more died through disease during the napolionic w
by walshemj 9y ago
Until fairly recently alcohol also helped with the problem of contaminated water causing massive casualties eg more died through disease during the napolionic wars than through firefights.
- craftyguy 9y agoI've heard this several times, but have yet to see a credible source for the claim that 'everyone drank alcohol because it was safer than water.' Alcohol is a diuretic, if that was all you drank, you'd succumb to dehydration.
- freeflight 9y agoIt may be diuretic but, for obvious reasons, no alcoholic drink is entirely made of ethanol. Just like sugared soda might not be the most healthy choice of hydration, it's still gonna keep you hydrated.
- mercer 9y agoI wish I could find the link now, but there was a very interesting (and, based on my admittedly rudimentary knowledge of history, high quality) thread on reddit's /r/askHistorians that dispelled this 'myth'.