NASCAR. The rise of Al Capone. Lots of children.
One thing all of the above have in common is creation because of alcohol — the first two are Prohibition-era residue; the latter is self-explanatory. In more ways than one, alcohol has cultural relevance.
College students like ourselves are constantly reminded of the presence of this so-called social lubricant. At ASU, the campus image is schizophrenic, the New American University battling the nation’s best party school.
But in reality, every college is a party school, which is why they teach us about alcohol in the early stages of the D.A.R.E. program.
Weekends during the first two years are often consumed by finding someone old enough to buy booze for us, then drinking as much as humanly possibly in a single night.
But there is a whole other ethyl-fueled world to encounter. In other words, what Bud Light and Natural Ice are to American college culture is similar to what vodka is to Russia or what cognac is to France. And despite what you may think (or have practiced), beer is not just beer, and (most) tequila is not created to take shots of. There are quite a few people who will get very upset if you don’t enjoy your libation in reverence of history and culture.
For some, it is difficult to discuss beer without knowing the fact that it was discovered in Mesopotamia around the same time that bread was. Avoiding rum’s role in the American Revolution — the “no taxation without representation” mantra began with the Molasses Act; molasses is the main ingredient rum is distilled from — is inexcusable. Absinthe, best known as that illegal, hallucinogenic European spirit, actually has an intricate culture behind it, serving rituals as detailed as Japanese tea ceremonies. And for those teetotaling religious zealots who claim that the drink ruins lives, just remind them that ales brewed by Trappist monasteries fund Belgian churches.
For every neo-prohibitionist MADD-like organization, there exist a few more that love to drink, and love to tell you why. Modern Drunkard magazine claims to be “standing up for your right to get falling down drunk since 1996.” And for those looking to distance themselves from the bacchanalian, the Prudent Boozer is a society dedicated to moderate drinking, declaring “nurse the third, skip the fourth.”
The New York Times’ “Proof” blog discusses alcohol’s role in America, and covers topics from immigrant perceptions of drinking behavior and drinking in front of children to patronizing or working behind a bar.
As a restaurant bartender myself, I learned about spirits and cocktails before I was even legally allowed to drink. Adult beverages have become less a curiosity and more a full-fledged, active interest.
So next time you drink, contemplate your purchase for an additional moment. Try a classic cocktail like a Manhattan or a Gimlet, or liquor on the rocks. To appreciate these tastes, you may just have to step out of your bounds and adjust your historical perspective, but you also may discover something you enjoy immensely.
Cheers!
Reach Ryan at ryan.oneal@asu.edu.
