Updates Wednesdays

Comic 495 - Dehydrated

Posted on Wednesday, the 29th of December at 12:00 AM, 2021 in 2021

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DanVzare Wed, 29. Dec 12:00 AM, 2021 edit delete
DanVzare
People have told me that apparently it's because beer was much weaker back then. But that only covers up to the late 1600s. Did we finally start getting clean water at that point, or did everyone die of dehydration and just not realize it?
Hmm... I suppose that was around the time when people were constantly dying of cholera, so maybe we simply started drinking the water.

The truth is probably just that the whole "they only drank alcohol in medieval times because they couldn't drink water" is fictitious.
In all honesty, I think that the whole "medieval beer" thing, was actually just water treated with alcohol, rather than actually being beer. Because honestly, it's not that hard to purify water, and a bit of alcohol would easily help.
I mean, it certainly can't be that beer was too weak back then, because there are stories of Vikings getting drunk before a battle! It's a bit hard to believe that these “berserkers” were total lightweights who couldn't handle their liquor.

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PhilRcontent Wed, 29. Dec 9:18 AM, 2021 edit delete reply
Alcohol is indeed a diuretic (makes you lose water) but nearly all drinks with alcohol in them will supply more water than is lost by drinking them. Even spirits like whisky and vodka will hydrate you more than the dehydrating effects of the alcohol which they contain.

As to the "drink alcohol instead of water" thing - it is true in post industrial revolution societies, but before that you would only find that action taken in Urban communities, rural areas would still have clear fresh well/river water that was potable. Even then in urban communities the alcohol would be watered for the most part for during the day drinking, and it would only be when you wanted to get shit faced that you'd go for the normal stuff.

Vikings? Post-raids forget the watered down shit! Give 'em the full strength mead!!!
DanVzare Wed, 29. Dec 1:24 PM, 2021 edit delete reply
DanVzare
Thank you for the informative comment. :)
Except for alcohol being a diuretic, I had no idea about any of that stuff. That explains a lot, thanks.
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