It transforms a man into a beast
Oriel College, Oxford has recently acquired an essay by a former student, Sir Walter Raleigh. He warns of the possiblity that alcohol, “transformeth a man into a beast.” Writing about 1600 he adds that strong liquor is a “bewitching and infectious vice.” Having lived in France I regularly enjoy a glass of wine with my evening meal. The Greeks and Romans always watered their wine for the table. Greeks sometimes withdrew afterwards for a symposium, (lit. a drinks party). One historian (Sir Roy Strong) says it was the mark of a barbarian that they only drank to get drunk.
So binge drinking is not the mark of a civilized people, but you could say that sensible drinking is.
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