alcohol

Where in the World is Alcohol Illegal?

Published

8 months ago

September 18, 2023

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Sometimes, when you’re sipping on an ice cold beer or a nice glass of red wine, it’s impossible to imagine a world where alcohol is illegal. Well – just like recreational substances – alcohol is not legal everywhere. Alcohol, often referred to as the ‘social lubricant’, has been an integral part of human culture for millennia. It has played roles in celebrations, rituals, and social interactions across diverse societies.

However, not all countries have embraced it in the same manner. In various corners of the globe, alcohol has faced restrictions and outright bans due to cultural, religious, social, or health-related reasons. In this article, we’ll be delving into the fascinating world of alcohol prohibition, exploring the places where it remains illegal and the motivations behind such decisions.

What is Alcohol?

Alcohol has been an integral part of many societies for centuries. In fact, it is believed that the part of our body that metabolizes alcohol has been within mammals long before humans even existed. Some say this is anywhere from 7-21 million years ago. Our predecessors were consuming alcohol from fruits long before we were around.

*Heroes of ancient Greek myths Dionysus and Ariadne with jugs of wine*

Alcohol, in a chemical sense, refers to a group of organic compounds characterized by the presence of a hydroxyl (-OH) functional group attached to a carbon atom. The most common type of alcohol is ethanol, with the chemical formula C2H5OH. Ethanol is the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages and is produced through the fermentation of sugars by yeast.

During fermentation, yeast consumes sugars, releasing carbon dioxide and ethanol as byproducts. This chemical process has been harnessed by humans for millennia to create various alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, and spirits. Wine is made from sugar from grapes, whereas vodka is vape from the sugar in potatoes. The Penn Museum writes:

“Chemical analyses recently confirmed that the earliest alcoholic beverage in the world was a mixed fermented drink of rice, honey, and hawthorn fruit and/or grape. The residues of the beverage, dated ca. 7000–6600 BCE, were recovered from early pottery from Jiahu, a Neolithic village in the Yellow River Valley.”

*Alcohol has substantial effects on the CNS*

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Toast 4/20 With A THC Infused Mocktail

Published

3 weeks ago

April 19, 2024

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It is the high holiday of marijuana use. You want to go out and have some fun, so why not toast 4/20 with a THC infused mocktail? Friday and Saturday are the busiest night at bars and sometimes you want something other than a vape or a gummy – so why not have a “cannabis mocktail”? This way you can indulge with your friends, have a little sugar in your system and chill out.

Non alcoholic cocktails – called the mocktail have been around since the 1860s with the temperance movement. The craft cocktail movement has spurred the cocktail renaissance, characterized by a revival and re-prioritization of traditional recipes and methods in the bar industry. So why not do what you love and be part of the movement also?

cannabis cocktail — Photo by viennetta/Getty Images

The easiest way is to add a THC tincture to the mocktails while the staff aren’t looking. Simply stop at your local dispensary and pick one up. Find something with a bland flavor so it will go with whatever you order. When looking for a mocktail, consider drinks with strong flavors and a little extra ice. Remember, it will take 15-30 minutes at least for it to kick in (like a real cocktail), so don’t drink too quickly.

You can also make your own marijuana simple syrup. It is bit involved but it’s still nothing too crazy if you love creating. You’ll need issome combination of water, fine granulated sugar, vegetable glycerine, marijuana, a bottle or jar, and cheesecloth. If the marijuana is baked before hand in order to encourage decarboxylation if can make a different. There is a bit of trial and error based on the strength of the plant used.

In 1971, 4/20 was born as a code word when five Californian high school students used to to connect. They had a a treasure map to help them find an abandoned cannabis crop. Since them it has become a universal term used for weed and the date is biggest cannabis day of year.

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What’s The Buzz About Beer And Weed

Published

4 weeks ago

April 8, 2024

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Beer is universal, it is the 3rd most consumed fluid behind water and tea (surprise – not coffee). China, the US and Brazil lead the world in consuming beer. But things are changing again for the popular drink. So what’s the buzz about beer and weed. With the increased popularity of marijuana in the Americas and Europe, beer is having to figure out a new path. And we aren’t too sure beer and weed should mix.

The first sign of trouble was in California when beer sales lowered during the first part of the week. Then Canada did a study and said beer sales were slightly shrinking with legal weed and they. Then data shows some people reducing beer consumption and replacing it with marijuana. Another trend shows Gen Z is drinking less and consuming more…helping spur the trend of California sober.

So, can these two now rivals, mix? Well, it has been a common practice, but it comes with a warning. The combination results in a very specific kind of high. Known as a crossfade high, it is supposed to help you feel especially relaxed. This appears to be because alcohol increases the absorption of THC, ramping up the effects of the high.

But, there are downsides. Some have a really unpleasant high. This could be in the form of greening out, which is basically getting really nauseous, vomiting, and even getting sweaty and pale. Others might get really paranoid.

Unfortunately, when you use weed and beer at the same time, the situation can escalate to a lot more than a bad high. In some cases, the user could wind up with alcohol poisoning, which can sometimes lead to death. Here’s what happens when you mix weed and beer.

According to research published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, it seems marijuana impacts the bioavailability of alcohol, or how much is actually absorbed by the body. The results indicated marijuana users had a higher blood-alcohol level than if they had skipped the weed and just had beer. Due to the absorbing rate, there is a risk of excessive drinking, which could cause alcohol poisoning with symptoms like passing out, hypothermia, slowed breathing, and seizures.

Difficult Menstruation — Photo by martin-dm/Getty Images

Marijuana is known to reduce vomiting and nausea. While it can be a medical benefit, but when drinking it can have serious consequences. The body often responds to over drinking by making us throw up, preventing alcohol poisoning

It is probably best to just be really careful, to stick with a small amount of alcohol and a small amount of weed and stick with a controlled environment, like you’re home, to make sure you’re safe.

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How To Manage When Only One Partner Consumes Weed

Published

1 month ago

April 1, 2024

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Dating and relationships can be fun, challenging and fulfilling, but it important to be on sync on who you act as both a couple and individual. Politics, religion, having children, and money are all the big hurdles which can cause a rift. A survey showed the three leading causes of divorce are basic incompatibility (43%), infidelity (28%), and money issues (22%). So what happens if you have some incompatibilities? How do you overcome it. Until the spread of legalization, alcohol and smoking were the only consuming habits to navigate. Now it includes how to manage when only one partner consumes weed.

If only one partner drinks, it can be a challenge and something a couple has to figure how to approach. Alcohol is generally legal and social accepted, but can cause more issues than weed. The downside of drinking including hangovers, a perhaps change in behavior traits while under the influence, health issues and cost. Cannabis has become more social accepted with over 85% of people agreeing on some form of legalization. It is also generally wrapped in a few myths including laziness and lack of motivation.

Knowledge, sharing and talking is key to growing a bond. Unlike alcohol andmarijuana, it is important to understand the distinction of something for a medical reason (i.e. anxiety, chronic pain, insomnia) versus recreational. Science is clear cannabis has medical benefits, alcohol is not. Having a drink to unwind is much more data murky.

Respect their opinions

While it’d be great to share consume together and go out for a delicious and hilarious meal, if the person you’re dating doesn’t, you can’t force them. A non judgemential open conversation followed by a general decision should provide a clear path. You get more points for respecting their space and decisions than by trying to prove that you’re right. And if done correctly, you can consume comfortably.

Be respectful of space

Like tobacco, smoking tobacco can provide a whiff of what is going on. Some people have smell issues and others just do not want their space to smell. Like smokers, be it cigarettes or the occasionally cigar, together come up with a plan of where you consume.

Stand your ground

At the same time, it’s equally important to stand your ground and not hide who you are because the person you’re dating thinks differently. This advice is not only limited to marijuana, since it’s important to hold on to your individuality whenever you’re entering a new relationship. Find some middle ground and moments where you can enjoy your habit without disturbing your partner’s day to day life.

Compromise

Compromise can appear in many ways, by either consuming on days when you’re apart, trying out non-intoxicating strains or indulging on special occasions and having your partner understand why you’re doing it. If the smoke is the issue, there are plenty of other less invasive options to choose from. The most important part here is to communicate.

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