ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of alcoholic drinks

Well, little one, people have been making and drinking alcoholic drinks for a very long time. In fact, some historians think that the first alcoholic drinks were made as far back as 7,000 B.C.!

The first alcoholic drinks were probably made accidentally. People would leave grape juice or other fruit juice out in the sun too long, and it would start to ferment, which means that the sugar in the juice starts to turn into alcohol. They would drink it and feel very happy and relaxed.

As time went on, people started to figure out how to make alcoholic drinks on purpose. They would purposely leave fruit or grain out in the sun or in a warm place to ferment, or they would crush the fruit or grain to make a kind of mash that would ferment on its own.

Different cultures around the world started making their own kinds of alcoholic drinks. In ancient Egypt, people drank beer made from barley. In ancient China, people drank a kind of wine made from rice. In Europe, people made wine from grapes, and in Russia, people made a kind of beer from bread.

As time went on, people started to get more creative with their drinks. They would add spices, fruit, or other flavorings to make the drinks taste better. They also started to figure out how to age their drinks to make them taste even better.

Today, there are many different kinds of alcoholic drinks, from beer and wine to cocktails and spirits. Each kind has a unique history and cultural significance. But no matter what kind of drink you prefer, it's important to remember to drink responsibly and never drink too much!