> I don't think we're likely to replace alcohol any time soon - even with other ...

romwell · on July 9, 2021

Um, I don't see how that's easier than cannabis.

With cannabis, all you need is... cannabis. No patience required.

Sugar, historically, has not been available or even cheap.

messe · on July 10, 2021

> Sugar, historically, has not been available or even cheap.

Sugars are commonplace. If you can make bread, you can make beer.

romwell · on July 10, 2021

Making bread required agricultural advances, and it's a complex, labor-intensive, multi-step process (as is anything that has to do with grains).

Making alcohol by fermenting fruits is comparatively much easier, but then again, cultivating and harvesting fruits is a pretty laborious process.

Then actually brewing beer is not that simple.

Even today, with availability of source materials and technology, homebrewing is a rather involved hobby. Same with producing wine that's drinkable.

On the other side, we have literally a weed that needs very little to grow, and requires nearly zero processing.

I really see no comparison here.

The theory that we started making alcohol for food safety/nutrition reasons makes the most sense to me.