Wine makes us more human: the surprising reason why we keep drinking it

Why do we humans drink wine? Alcohol is a poison – that’s something the authorities have really drummed into us. It’s something we already knew, so the question remains: why do we drink it then? Derrick Neleman shares his thoughts on this.
Text: Derrick Neleman (Winemaker and founder of Bodegas Neleman) | Image: Pexels

Canadian professor Edward Slingerland – a philosopher, not a doctor – argues that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. And what are those benefits? Alcohol makes us happy and helps us let our guard down. It makes us more sociable, more open towards strangers, and even more creative.

In his book Drunk, how we sipped, danced and stumbled our way back to civilisation Slingerland puts it plainly: if alcohol were nothing but poison, the habit of drinking it would have died out long ago.

Bloos Syndrome

Among Asians, ‘flushing syndrome’ is common. This is a form of alcohol intolerance where flushing is one of the symptoms. People with this condition lack one of the two enzymes needed to break down alcohol and feel unwell even after consuming just a small amount.
An evolutionary advantage? Not one that has gained the upper hand amongst us hominids. We drinkers have not died out in favour of our fellow humans who are intolerant of alcohol.
The taste for alcohol is ancient and is found in many more animals, not just humans. Our earliest ancestors were also quite fond of it, and we’re still here today.

Social lubricant

Alcohol is bad for our bodies, but good for our well-being. Wine also embodies an entire culture – a culture of origin, of endless variety, of history and stories. Alcohol is a brilliant social lubricant; wine is a drink that makes us kinder, more accommodating, that frees us from our inhibitions, and that makes us walk on the sunny side of the street.
In moderation, of course – always in moderation. But still. Wine is a drink enjoyed all over the world.

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