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[[Image:Margarita.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A margarita, a popular alcoholic drink]]

[[Image:Margarita.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A margarita, a popular alcoholic drink]]

An '''alcoholic drink''' is beer, wine or liquor, typically made from grain, potatoes or grapes. Forms of beer and wine have been fermented for thousands of years in many cultures; distillation to create a liquor was invented by Arabs around 800AD, and quickly spread to Europe and Asia.

An '''alcoholic drink''' is beer, wine or liquor, typically made from grain, potatoes or grapes. Forms of beer and wine have been fermented for thousands of years in many cultures; distillation to create a liquor was invented by Arabs around 800AD, and quickly spread to Europe and Asia. Liquor is derived from fermented grains or other plants with a high starch content, that are then [[distillation|distilled]] to increase the alcohol content.  Liquors such as [[rum]], [[tequila]] and [[vodka]] are derived from molasses, [[agave]] and grain or potatoes respectively.  Some liquors are aged for years to improve flavor.

 

The drinking of alcoholic beverages is surrounded by many rituals--and since it produced fighting and violence, by criminal controls. Alcoholics become addicted and are useful targets for taxation.  The the 1840-1930 era, prohibition was a worldwide movement, especially led by evangelical Protestants, to stop the manufacture and sale of beer, wine and liquor. Alcohol is highly illegal in most Islamic countries, and if considered a sin or forbidden in some Protestant denominations.

The drinking of alcoholic beverages is surrounded by many rituals--and since it produced fighting and violence, by criminal controls. Alcoholics become addicted and are useful targets for taxation.  The the 1840-1930 era, prohibition was a worldwide movement, especially led by evangelical Protestants, to stop the manufacture and sale of beer, wine and liquor. Alcohol is highly illegal in most Islamic countries, and if considered a sin or forbidden in some Protestant denominations.

The [[Bible]] uses the Hebrew word "grape" to signify wine, making it unclear whether historical figures such as Jesus were drinking alcoholic wine or merely unfermented grape juice.  ==Liquor==

The [[Bible]] uses the Hebrew word "grape" to signify wine, making it unclear whether historical figures such as Jesus were drinking alcoholic wine or merely unfermented grape juice.  ==Liquor==

In 1 Timothy 5:23 Paul counsels:

In 1 Timothy 5:23 Paul counsels: