Alcohol Abstinence and Sobriety

Abstract

SynonymsAlcoholism; Recovery; Temperance;TeetotalismIntroductionIn its most basic form, alcohol is theproduct of the natural fermentation of sugars by yeast. Thefirst time a human ate fermented berries or honey is not known.What is known is that mead, which is fermented honey, is one ofthe oldest alcoholic beverages. Ale and wine also made veryearly appearances on the beverage scene. Alcohol has been bothan ingredient in the cooking and preparation of food and anaccompaniment or complement to food.Alcohol abstinence is thecategorical refusal to consume alcohol as a beverage or as aningredient in food preparation.Sobriety is a term that peopleuse who have changed their consumption of and relation toalcohol. Most often, the term is used by those who previouslyhad consumed alcohol in troubling, harmful, or unhealthyways.People abstain or practice sobriety for a variety ofreasons. The most commonly cited reasons for not drinkinginclude concerns about the effects of alcohol ...