Alcohol is not a new invention of modern societies. It has been around through many different ancient cultures, wine being the most prominent substance. Some cultures viewed alcohol consumption as good, while others perceived it good only in moderation. For example, the Greek god Bacchus was known for his excessive drinking while the Roman god Dionysus was known for teaching moderation in drinking (Peacock 20-21).

Alcoholism was also learned to have existed in history. Interpreted writings on the tomb of an Egyptian king who lived over 5,000 years ago read, "His earthly abode was rent and shattered by wine and beer. And the

Clinton Signs Bill to Lower Drunken Driving Standards. Dallas Morning News. SIRS. 23

Once a person becomes sober from being an alcoholic, it is very hard for that person to stay sober. Relapses are common and should not come as a surprise to doctors, patients, or families. The relapses should be dealt with immediately before a serious problem develops again. About 90% of recovering alcoholics will experience at least one relapse in their first four years of sobriety (Peacock 88). Even if a person goes through a couple of relapses, they may still be able to get back on the right track with help and support.

As well as changing his or her own life, the lifestyle of an alcoholic usually affects the life of his or her friends and family. Domestic abuse is higher in cases where one spouse abuses alcohol. In 95% of these cases, the men are responsible for abusing their wife or girlfriend. Usually, the violence gets more severe as time goes on. Sometimes the violence will reach out to children, intentionally or unintentionally, and results in child abuse (Peacock 54).

Ancient and modern literatures show that alcohol has been around longer than most people think. For example, in the ancient epic of Giglamesh, written 4,000 years ago, one character was the goddess of wine and brewing, Siduri (World literature 136, 139). The Chinese poet Tu Fu wrote about celebrating an old friend's retirement with wine in his poem, "For Wei Pa, in Retirement" (World Literature 528). Prominent figures in more recent literature have died to alcohol related causes. Edgar Allen Poe, author of popular poems such as "The Raven" and "The Bells", died of alcoholism at the age of 40 (Selected Poetry).

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April 2001.

Underage drinking is becoming a threatening problem among teens today. The media, especially, is not helping in the process to stop underage drinking. A new joke being told is that a mother was asking her young child what sounds different animals make. The child was answering correctly, until the mother asked, "What does a frog say?" to which the child answered, "Bud." Though this may seem amusing to some, it shows the reality of what we are exposing the future leaders of our country to. Children in the U.S. will be exposed to alcohol consumption through the media as well as real-life observations about 75,000 times before they reach th

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