Drink
Liquids for human consumption, vital for life and culture.
A drink or beverage is a liquid intended for human consumption. Water is the common basis for drinks. In addition to their vital function of satisfying thirst, drinks play important roles in human culture. Common types of drinks include plain drinking water, milk, juice, smoothies and soft drinks. Traditionally warm beverages encompass coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Caffeinated drinks that contain the stimulant caffeine have been consumed for centuries.
- field
- Human consumption and culture
- known_for
- Essential for hydration, social rituals, and cultural traditions
- types
- Water, milk, juice, soft drinks, coffee, tea, alcoholic beverages
Lore & Background
Drinking has been a large part of socialising throughout the centuries. In ancient Greece, a social gathering for the purpose of drinking was known as a symposium, where watered-down wine would be drunk. In ancient Rome, a similar concept of a convivium took place regularly. Many early societies considered alcohol a gift from the gods, leading to the creation of gods such as Dionysus. Other religions forbid, discourage, or restrict the drinking of alcoholic drinks for various reasons. Toasting is a method of honoring a person or wishing goodwill by taking a drink. Another tradition is that of the loving cup; at weddings or other celebrations such as sports victories a group will share a drink in a large receptacle, shared by everyone until empty. In East Africa and Yemen, coffee was used in native religious ceremonies. As these ceremonies conflicted with the beliefs of the Christian church, the Ethiopian Church banned the secular consumption of coffee until the reign of Emperor Menelik II. The drink was also banned in Ottoman Turkey during the 17th century for political reasons.
Reader's Guide
Drinks are fundamental to human survival and social life. Water is essential for life, and its purification—through filtration, chlorination, or distillation—has been critical for public health. The World Health Organization notes that 94% of deaths from diarrhea, the third biggest cause of infectious death worldwide at 1.8 million annually, could be prevented by improving safe water. The invention of beer and bread has been argued to be responsible for humanity's ability to develop technology and build civilization. Non-alcoholic drinks, such as low-alcohol beer or non-alcoholic wine, are produced with very low alcohol content or have the alcohol removed. The production of drinks involves processes like pasteurization, juicing, infusion, percolation, carbonation, fermentation, distillation, and mixing. These methods have shaped global cuisines and economies, making drinks a central element of human history.
Did You Know?
- The complete deprivation of drinks (water) will result in death faster than the removal of any other substance besides oxygen.
- In the United Kingdom, 'alcohol-free beer' is under 0.05% ABV, while 'low-alcohol beer' can contain no more than 1.2% ABV.
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