SC - Is drinking water "period"

[CorwynWdwd at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/14/2000 4:54:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
RichSCA at aol.com writes:

> Fermenting or brewing it
>  basically takes care of these problems, or so I understand, so that is why
>  ale and wine were staple drinks.

As well as making syrups such as sekanjabin, and the Roman military custom of 
drinking water mixed with vinegar. I'm sure they had little idea of the 
reasons, but they were smart enough to know that fewer people got sick from 
water mixed with wine or vinegar. Cider and perry were often drunk in leu of 
fresh water also, even into American colonial times.

As I understand it, wine wasn't often drunk straight, but mixed with water. 
This makes sense, since the body does need a certain amount of water to work 
right, and alcohol contributes to dehydration.

Ale has a double purpose, as does wine to a lesser extent, in that it 
provides needed nutrition. It is often referred to as "bread in a bottle" 
even today by homebrewers. In a civilization powered mostly by muscle, added 
calories are a benefit. No light beer here <G>.

Before anyone asks, my sources are at best secondary. But I do believe it all 
 makes sense.

Corwyn