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> I don't think we're likely to replace alcohol any time soon - even with other relatively popular things like cannabis. The effects are more predictable and en
by messe 5y ago
> I don't think we're likely to replace alcohol any time soon - even with other relatively popular things like cannabis. The effects are more predictable and enjoyable by more people.
Ease of manufacturing is also a major factor. All you need is sugar, water, yeast (which can come from a multitude of sources), and patience.
- romwell 5y agoUm, I don't see how that's easier than cannabis. With cannabis, all you need is... cannabis. No patience required. Sugar, historically, has not been available or even cheap.
- messe 5y ago> Sugar, historically, has not been available or even cheap. Sugars are commonplace. If you can make bread, you can make beer.
- romwell 5y agoMaking bread required agricultural advances, and it's a complex, labor-intensive, multi-step process (as is anything that has to do with grains). Making alcohol by fermenting fruits is comparatively much easier, but then again, cultivating and harvesting fruits is a pretty laborious process. Then actually brewing beer is not that simple. Even today, with availability of source materials and technology, homebrewing is a rather involved hobby. Same with producing wine that's drinkable. On the other side, we have literally a weed that needs very little to grow, and requires nearly zero processing. I really see no comparison here. The theory that we started making alcohol for food safety/nutrition reasons makes the most sense to me.