On Mon, 9 Jun 2003 13:50:56 -0400, gts <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > snip Food and drink > that > contained a bit of alcohol were less likely to spread bacteria and > disease, > giving an evolutionary advantage to paleolithic humans who were adapted > to > alcohol. Evolutionary disadvantage. Bacteria are good for us. Excess alcohol is an antibiotic. > > This same principle was later used consciously by sailors: the sailor's > drink known as "grog" was a mildly alcoholic drink designed to help > prevent > the spread of disease aboard sailing ships. snip It was maybe more likely designed to prevent the spread of mutiny. William -- Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/