Lena Savoie
It is a common misconception that people in the past drank alcohol because water was unsafe. While this may be true for some ancient societies, it is not true for all. For example, in Medieval Europe, people did drink water, and it was common knowledge that obtaining water from marshy areas or places of standing water was to be avoided. In addition, the process of making beer or ale involved boiling the mash, which killed harmful bacteria in the water. Beer was also more expensive than water, and people in the Middle Ages were not drinking the highly alcoholic beers we know today. In the 18th century, however, alcohol was a substitute for undrinkable water, and cocktails began to emerge as a way to make spirits more palatable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | Middle Ages, 18th century |
| Water safety | Water was unsafe in some places, but not all |
| Alternative drinks | Beer, ale, wine, cocktails |
| Reasons for drinking alcohol | Nutrition, flavor, social and cultural reasons, medicine |
| Water sources | Wells, fresh streams, water infrastructure |
| Water quality understanding | People understood that not all water was safe to drink and boiled it |
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What You'll Learn
Water was plentiful and common in the Middle Ages
It is a common misconception that people drank beer instead of water in the Middle Ages because the water was unsafe. This idea is often repeated, but it is not true. In fact, water was plentiful and common in the Middle Ages.
A number of records from medieval times report that water was widely consumed. One account by Gallo-Roman historian Saint Gregory of Tours mentions a boy so religious that he primarily drank water, like many devout people at the time. Gregory also mentions a traveller in the sixth century who asked a villager for water. In another story, there were telltale marks where a hermit had knelt to drink from a river. Water was free and clean, and whether from a well or fresh stream, it was the centerpiece of villages.
In larger towns, there were even infrastructures to supply water to citizens. In 1236, construction of a system of pipes began in London, designed to move water from a fresh spring to a pumping house, making fresh water available at cisterns throughout the city. Medieval people did not drink water that looked or smelled bad, and tradesmen who polluted the town's drinking supply faced hefty fines.
Doctors did not recommend against drinking water in general or using alcohol to avoid it. While water was drunk by the poor, and probably by others as well, beer was viewed as a more nutritious alternative. Even though it was weakly brewed from barley, beer was a calorie-laden beverage that was popular with workers and farmers who were thirsty and in need of energy.
Beer may have been consumed more widely in monasteries, where there was a high allowance for beer. However, outside of big institutions, cities, or large towns, brewing was probably done by householders with surplus capital, and alcohol was likely a treat rather than a daily occurrence.
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Beer was viewed as a nutritious alternative to water
It is a widespread belief that people in the Middle Ages drank beer instead of water because the water was unsafe. However, this is a myth. Water was plentiful and common, and people drank it without getting sick. In fact, doctors did not advise against drinking water.
However, beer was viewed as a nutritious alternative to water. It was a calorie-laden beverage that provided energy to workers and farmers. Beer was also considered safer than water, which was often polluted and full of bacteria. Even though beer was weakly brewed from barley, it was believed to be a healthier option.
Today, we know that beer contains some minerals and vitamins, such as potassium, calcium, thiamine, iron, and zinc. These micronutrients are a result of the beer-making process, which involves using cereal grains and yeast. However, it is important to note that one would have to consume large amounts of beer to meet their daily nutrient requirements.
Additionally, moderate beer intake has been associated with potential health benefits, such as improved cholesterol levels and a lower risk of heart disease, improved blood sugar control, stronger bones, and reduced dementia risk. However, heavy and binge drinking can have harmful effects, including an increased risk of death.
In conclusion, while beer was not the primary drink during the Middle Ages, it was indeed viewed as a nutritious and sometimes safer alternative to water. However, this does not mean that people in medieval times exclusively drank beer and never water. Both drinks played a role in their daily lives, with water being the more common and accessible choice.
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Doctors did not condemn water outright
While water in the Middle Ages was often polluted and full of bacteria, doctors did not condemn water outright. According to American food history blogger Jim Chevallier, there are mentions of people drinking water throughout the medieval era, and there is no evidence that they thought of it as generally unhealthy. Doctors had more nuanced views, but they did not recommend against drinking water in all cases.
For example, in the 13th century, tenants of the manors owned by St Paul's Cathedral who performed work for their landlord were supplied with food and drink. Sometimes this was beer, and sometimes it was water. This suggests that water was not considered unsafe in all contexts.
Water was also free and clean, and it was the centerpiece of villages. In larger towns, there were even infrastructures to supply water to citizens. For example, in 1236, construction began on a system of pipes in London to move water from a fresh spring to a pumping house, making fresh water available throughout the city. Medieval people were not likely to drink water that looked or smelled bad, and tradesmen who polluted the town's drinking supply faced fines.
Beer was viewed as a more nutritious alternative to water, and it was calorie-laden and energizing. However, it is a myth that people primarily drank beer throughout the Middle Ages. Records from medieval times, such as those by Gallo-Roman historian Saint Gregory of Tours, mention water drinking by both commoners and royalty. Gregory also mentions a traveler in the sixth century who asked for water, and a hermit who knelt to drink from a river.
While doctors in the Middle Ages may have had nuanced views about water, they did not condemn it outright. Water was often drunk by people of all social classes, and there were efforts to ensure access to clean water through infrastructure projects. It is important to note that the notion that people only drank beer during this period is incorrect.
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People in the Middle Ages understood that not all water was safe to drink
The notion that people in the Middle Ages drank alcohol instead of water because water was unsafe is a myth. People in the Middle Ages understood that not all water was safe to drink and would avoid water that looked or smelled bad. Medical texts and health manuals from the Middle Ages often noted the benefits of drinking water, as long as it came from good sources. For example, Paul of Aegina, a 7th-century Byzantine physician, writes, "of all things water is of most use in every mode of regimen. It is necessary to know that the best water is devoid of quality as regards taste and smell, is most pleasant to drink, and pure to the sight; and when it passes through the praecordia quickly, one cannot find a better drink."
People in the Middle Ages drank water from wells and fresh streams, which were the centerpieces of villages. Larger towns even had infrastructures to supply water to citizens. For example, in the 13th century, the city of London constructed "The Conduit," a system of lead pipes that brought fresh water from a spring outside the city walls into the middle of London, where people could freely access it.
However, water was not always easily accessible, particularly in cities during the late Middle Ages, and beer became an important alternative. Beer was viewed as a more nutritious alternative to water, as it was calorie-laden and provided energy to workers and farmers. It is worth noting that beer during the Middle Ages was likely very weak, with a low alcohol content of around 1% compared to the 5-10% alcohol content of beers today.
While water was commonly consumed, it was not always the preferred drink. A young man in a 10th-century Saxon colloquy is asked what he drinks and answers: "Beer if I have it or water if I have no beer." This quote expresses a preference for beer while also indicating comfort with drinking water.
In conclusion, while people in the Middle Ages understood that not all water was safe to drink, the idea that they exclusively drank alcohol because water was unsafe is incorrect. They had access to clean water sources and also consumed beer as an alternative, with a preference for beer over water among some individuals.
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Beer was not a replacement for water
The notion that people drank beer instead of water because the water was unsafe is a myth. This idea is widespread but incorrect. While water in the Middle Ages was indeed often polluted and full of bacteria, there is plenty of evidence that people drank water and saw it as common and plentiful.
For example, the Gallo-Roman historian Saint Gregory of Tours mentions a boy so religious that he primarily drank water, like many devout people at the time. Gregory also mentions a sixth-century traveller who asked a villager for water, and there are telltale marks where a hermit knelt to drink from a river. Medieval people were not stupid; they did not drink water that looked or smelled bad, and tradesmen who polluted the town's drinking supply faced hefty fines.
Clean water was simply not an issue for the average person living in the Middle Ages. Even in the biggest cities, water delivery systems were surprisingly sophisticated. London, for example, had the "Great Conduit". While the poorest people may have had to drink river water, they were a minority within a minority.
It is true that water was sometimes unsafe to drink, and that people drank beer and other alcoholic drinks for variety and flavour, but this did not mean that beer replaced water as a source of hydration. In fact, beer causes dehydration because the alcohol reduces the amount of anti-diuretic hormone the body produces, making people urinate more than they would after drinking water.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes and no. While it is true that in some places and eras, such as the colonial era of the USA and the 18th century, people drank alcohol because water was unsafe, this was not always the case. For example, there is a widespread misconception that people in the Middle Ages primarily drank beer because the water was polluted and unsafe, but this is not true. There are records from medieval times that mention people drinking water, and there is no evidence that they thought of it as generally unhealthy.
No, beer was not a perfect substitute for water. Firstly, it would have been more costly to drink beer than water, as beer had to be purchased and was often taxed. Additionally, beer was not as hydrating as water because it requires more water to expel the toxins than it provides to the body.
No, the beer consumed in ancient times was likely "small beer," which is almost non-alcoholic by today's standards, typically containing around 1% alcohol.
Alcoholic drinks were likely consumed for their calorie content, especially in colder weather, and for the variety and flavour they offered.
No, not everyone drank alcohol to stay hydrated. For example, Native Americans in colonial New England did not consume alcoholic beverages despite the presence of unsafe water sources.
