Bomber Jackets City of Switches (2013)
In recent years, the market for non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages has expanded significantly: alcohol-free beers and wines, mocktails, spirits without the spirit—you name it. While mindful drinking or total abstinence is undeniably on the rise, particularly among Gen Z, enjoying a glass or two remains deeply rooted in many cultures—and has been for a long time.
The earliest evidence of alcohol production dates back nearly 10,000 years. In the Jiahu region of China, residues of a fermented drink made from rice, honey and fruit were discovered. Around 4,000 BCE, ancient Mesopotamians brewed beer from barley, and by 3,000 BCE, the Egyptians were producing both beer and wine.
In many ancient cultures, alcohol was more than just a beverage; it played an important role in social gatherings, ceremonies and religious rituals. The Sumerians, for example, had a goddess of beer, Ninkasi, while the ancient Greeks celebrated Dionysus, the god of wine.
In today’s Western society, alcohol occupies a complex and multifaceted role, reflecting a blend of tradition, social norms and modern health concerns. This complexity is not just evident at the societal but also on an individual level. Most people have likely gone through phases when they felt the need to cut back a little. British musician Russell Walker is no exception. In the synthpop track “City of Switches” by Bomber Jackets, one of many projects Walker is involved in, he sings about “the age-old drinking conundrum,” as he revealed in a commentary on self-titledmag.com:
“… when I’ve tried at various points to be abstinent—and it is fine for a while; you feel life getting more tolerable and you start being nicer to people—it sometimes starts to feel a bit muffled, like the blandness of life reaches a point where its roaring in your ears. Even if what you use to take you away from that realm makes life more unstable, you at least feel like you’re trying to make life bearable for yourself.”
Well then, cheers!
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