A brief history of battlefield boozing

Re:A brief history of battlefield boozing by walshemj on Friday November 10, 2017 @05:54PM (#15673778)

Until fairly recently alcohol also helped with the problem of contaminated water causing massive casualties eg more died through disease during the napolionic wars than through firefights.

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Re:A brief history of battlefield boozing by craftyguy on Saturday November 11, 2017 @12:30PM (#15677178)

I've heard this several times, but have yet to see a credible source for the claim that 'everyone drank alcohol because it was safer than water.'

Alcohol is a diuretic, if that was all you drank, you'd succumb to dehydration.

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Re:A brief history of battlefield boozing by mercer on Saturday November 11, 2017 @02:13PM (#15677630)

I wish I could find the link now, but there was a very interesting (and, based on my admittedly rudimentary knowledge of history, high quality) thread on reddit's /r/askHistorians that dispelled this 'myth'.

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Re:A brief history of battlefield boozing by freeflight on Saturday November 11, 2017 @12:35PM (#15677192)

It may be diuretic but, for obvious reasons, no alcoholic drink is entirely made of ethanol. Just like sugared soda might not be the most healthy choice of hydration, it's still gonna keep you hydrated.

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