The Theme for our semester long blog is "Spirits" the drinking type.

Welcome to our blog. In this semester long blog we will share our opinions on how "Spirits" (Beer, Alcohol) have evolved thru the past, present and future, including views on the impact on Society, a Cultural view, and the Scientific perspective. We hope that you will enjoy our blog.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT ALCOHOL

Alcohol was around for centuries as a component of wine and beer, but it was not identified as a separate compound. The first person who discovered pure alcohol (ethanol) by distilling wine was a well known Iranian alchemist by the name of Mohammad ibn Zakaria Razi (864-930 AD).

He not only discovered alcohol, and the use of alcohol in medicine, but also discovered sulfuric acid.

How was the fermentation of Alcohol discovered?

Probably by accident. Primitive man stored fruits and grains in containers made of animal skin and pots. Wild yeast infected the beverages and converted the sugars to alcohol over time. It took many centuries to realize that there was yeast involved.

When was it discovered?

Alcohol dates back to 5400-5000 BC from the residue of wine on ancient pottery artifacts. These findings were discovered in the northern zagros mountains located in modern day Iran.

What role did alcohol play in early colonial America?

As the Revolutionary crisis deepened, taverns and pubs became the central meeting places for discussions of ideas about resistance. Taverns were also places where resistance pamphlets and leaflets could be distributed, and meetings for the planning of protests and demonstrations could be held. Massachusetts had the most elaborately developed tavern culture, which was perhaps one reason why the spirit of resistance grew more quickly there than anywhere else.

How did prohibition start in the United States?

Prohibition began with the members of temperance movements, mainly Christians, who agreed not to drink alcohol since they saw that it did damage to family life and they wanted to stop it. There were mostly made up of two main movements called the Anti-Saloon League and the Women's Christian Temperance Union. These movements were so strong in some states that they persuaded the government to ban alcohol within the state. Soon enough, the campagin gathered pace and within several years, it became a national campaign to ban alcohol throughout the country.

What did the Volstead Act do?

The 18th amendment entered America into the time called the Prohibition Era. This was January 16, 1920. The 18th Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, when it became legal to buy and sell alcohol unless prohibited by a state law.

Do you know how much a pint of beer was in the year 1812?

Beer was only sold in cast iron containers called Ding Dongs which went for the princely sum of one nickel.

Do you know what the two big excise taxes were by 1883 after most others were repealed?

You guessed it, tobacco and alcohol.

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