Alcohol and Civilization: How Spirits Created Society and Why We Are Abandoning It.

The Impact of Alcohol on Society and Health

According to ТСН: Alcohol quickly penetrates the body: ethanol is a small molecule that effortlessly enters the blood and brain, affecting practically all systems of the body. This property made alcohol an important part of human history, from the lives of our ancestors to the formation of great communities and civilizations.

Evolutionarily, humans learned to metabolize alcohol: approximately 10 million years ago, a common ancestor of humans and primates received a mutation that allowed for more efficient elimination of ethanol. This likely helped them survive by consuming fermented fruits.

Gradually, people began to specifically produce alcoholic beverages. Archaeological findings indicate that alcohol was part of rituals and communal feasts even 10,000 years ago. It fostered social cohesion: reducing anxiety, enhancing feelings of trust, and facilitating cooperation among strangers, contributing to the formation of complex societies.

At the biochemical level, alcohol stimulates the release of endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, lowers self-control, and makes people more sociable. Thus, it has been a tool for social connection for centuries — from temple rituals to political banquets.

However, over time the negative effects of alcohol became evident. Each year, alcohol causes approximately 1.8 million deaths worldwide, increases the risk of cancer, liver disease, and cardiovascular complications.

In 2023, the WHO stated: there is no safe dose of alcohol.

Against this backdrop, societal behavior is changing. Youth in developed countries are drinking less, alcohol sales are declining, and the world is increasingly discussing a 'peak consumption'. Moreover, new weight loss drugs are reducing the desire for alcohol.

The industry is already reacting to these changes: the market for non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages is rapidly growing, with 'functional' alternatives featuring plant extracts that mimic some intoxication effects without ethanol. Scientists are working on new substances that can replicate the calming effects of alcohol without harming health.

Alcohol will not disappear overnight — it is too deeply rooted in culture. However, humanity is likely gradually moving towards lower consumption and seeking safer ways to alter its state. Perhaps the millennia-long romance with alcohol is transitioning into a new, more restrained phase.

Particular attention should also be paid to the question of how modern trends affect the culture of alcohol consumption and the health of society as a whole. Reduced alcohol consumption, its replacement with alternatives, and increased awareness of risks may lead to significant changes in the habits and lifestyles of new generations seeking a balanced approach to recreation and entertainment.