> I meant it more as a figure of speech. I sort of figured, but then it wouldn't be much of an argument to claim that it can't be beneficial. But fair enough,

> I meant it more as a figure of speech. I sort of figured, but then it wouldn't be much of an argument to claim that it can't be beneficial. But fair enough, I misunderstood your argument. Your argument is actually that any claims of a fun "poison" being beneficial are highly suspect. To that end - that would make sense for novel poisons or poisons that are rarely consumed. But this is one that's been consumed by many successful cultures for thousands of years. Animals get drunk on fermented fruit. That makes it seem more plausible to me that there could be something beneficial to it. Perhaps it was only beneficial in the days of unclean drinking water (unless that one is also not actually true! It's hard to believe anything anymore.).