Über das richtige Maß

We have been drinking for a long time.

Already in ancient Neolithic times (6000-2000 BC) a kind of beer was produced in China from fermented rice or millet porridge.

And we've been drinking too much for a long time

And this with changing reception and justification; in the literature of antiquity, drinking and being drunk, - the "intoxication" was partly glorified, partly problematised.

And what does Plato say?

The old Plato, lived from 438-348 BC. He was a pupil of Socrates, a trained wrestler and had a problematic relationship with democracy. Many of us remember him as the author of the famous "Allegory of the Cave".

According to legend, "Plato" - Greek for "broad" - was just his nickname.

Be that as it may, Plato, the eternally broad(?), was already attempting to present a "sensible use" of alcohol at the time. He believed that a man
▸should not drink at all until the age of 18,
▸should drink moderately up to the age of 30 and only
▸allowed to drink more from the age of 40.

According to reports, he himself was over 40 when he recommended this.

And what do we say?

As we have already explained elsewhere:

If we include the social costs in the total cost calculation (i.e. the methodical TCO evaluation), such as (list may not be complete):

• `the loss of employment
• `the loss of a life partner
• `resulting homelessness
• `Home placement
• `etc.

..then we can calculate that the umpteenth **turn to the bottle** at some point no longer feels good and is no longer worth it...

and what do others say?

Just keep your hands off it. As simple as that. Maybe two shots of beer or one with wine a day could still do you good. Heart/circulation and all that. But no more than that.