"That put a quiver in my liver." -Dukes of Hazzard

I recently found this really interesting map from The Economist showing global alcohol consumption in liters per person based off data from 2003-2005. As high it seems from this chart, I can’t help but imagine that the chart that would be created from maybe 2009-2011 would be even higher due to the difficult economic and personally trying times that have been upon us. The description mentioned moonshine consumption which causes the data to be estimated in some places. This sparked a curiosity to look into moonshine because all I’ve ever known about moonshine is that it was produced in series Dukes of Hazzard, supporting the reputation that moonshine has always carried.

Essentially, moonshine is any illegally distilled beverage. Moonshine is produced by using an unlicensed still typically made of copper. A simple recipe can be found by Googling moonshine, despite the fact that it is illegal. The basic ingredients are corn meal, sugar, water, yeast, and malt. A sugar source is used to produce ethanol and is extracted through distillation in the still. Moonshine can be harmful because the materials used can contain toxins or other impurities which can also impact the flavor along with making it dangerous to ingest. Moonshine can also contain methanol, a toxic alcohol that is very dangerous to consume.

Documentaries have been made recently showing that moonshine is still being produced. An example I found is one called “Still Making Moonshine” which shows Jim Tom making moonshine from a still he has set up inside his camper (see clip here). He states “he loves to make it” and it’s clear he has no intention on stopping regardless of its illegal status.

After learning just a little bit about moonshine, its clearer how the map estimated that 30% of the world’s alcohol consumption is accounted for by moonshine based. Not only is the information readily available on the internet, it doesn’t seem like a difficult process to obtain alcohol, regardless of the possible risks involved.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder." -Anonymous

This weekend is one of the most anticipated weekends all year for the students of A&M. It’s finally time for Chilifest! Chilifest is a country music filled weekend with a chili cook-off contest that takes place in Snook, Texas and the proceeds go to charity. However, in most students’ eyes, it’s the drunkest weekend of the year. Beer flows freely all day and I’ve heard it be referred to as a “redneck’s Woodstock” by professors this year. With the mass quantities of alcohol available, it’s no surprise that one can find themselves in a lot of trouble Chilifest weekend. Last year, The Eagle reported that the police “made 41 arrests and 167 citations were issued” in relation to the two day festival.

People line up and camp a month before Chilifest for “team” signups which enable groups to have tents and participate on the first day (Friday night) of Chilifest and those with normal tickets can only participate one the second day of the two day party. Needless to say, it’s a huge deal in College Station and the police are in full force. They cover the festival grounds as well as make an extra effort to watch out for people driving under the influence.

Tips I’ve heard for staying safe and out of trouble at Chilifest are remaining in team tents while enjoying an adult beverage and never leaving a tent with a drink in hand if you do not have a 21 and up wristband on, and taking the shuttle from the Texas Hall of Fame to the grounds or arranging for a safe, sober ride to avoid putting people in danger from drunk driving. 

Those participating in Chilifest, whether of legal age or not, need to be responsible and exercise self control! As much fun as the weekend can be, people need to remember to be safe and drink responsibly! No one wants to endanger others and I’m sure no one wants a fine of $500 or more.

Give . . . wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Proverbs 31:6-7

As fun as the times drinking can bring, the aftermath is typically not fun in the lease. The dreaded hangover is known all over the world, and in most cultures. Each culture has their own saying for it, and there are so many rumored “cures” that I had to investigate. A great article on what exactly a hangover is and an explanation for all the remedies for that god awful feeling post drinking is from The New Yorker: A Few Too Many. I really enjoyed this article because it took some of the topics I’ve already covered and put them all into one piece.

I love how the article begins stating how easy a hangover can be avoided altogether by simply not drinking: “It is a preventable malady: don’t drink. Nevertheless, people throughout time have found what seemed to them good reason for recourse to alcohol.” Reasons like relaxation or causing less inhibitions, or trying to make things seem less grim by getting one’s mind off it are examples for why people may seek alcohol even though they know the possible consequences. 

Another great part of this article is explaining what a hangover actually is. It reminds the reader that alcohol is a dangerous compound for the body. When the body breaks down alcohol, it causes toxins to be released, which may be even more toxic to the body than alcohol. To top it all off, if the nausea and body shakes aren’t enough, hangovers also impact the mind. People who are suffering from hangovers aren’t able to focus as well (they may be focusing too much on not throwing up) and have delayed reaction times. The article raised a great question regarding drinking and driving: we all know how dangerous drinking and driving is, but have we ever thought about how dangerous driving with a hangover could be?  

  

The article also includes many “cures” for the hangover that are from multiple cultures and their folklore from ages ago in some instances and how people still use some today. If you find yourself suffering the morning after, try some out for yourself! It’s pretty hard to make yourself feel worse, right?

Though it’s a long article, I really recommend reading through the entire thing because it’s full of so much information but is highly entertaining because it’s presented comically. Definitely made me stop and actually think about what really happens when you drink and wonder if it’s all really that worth it.