During the ancient Greek to Roman period, people would dilute wine with water before drinking it, which would significantly lower the alcohol content. Those who did not drink wine were often referred to as "water-drinkers," which was considered an insult at the time. Wine was one of the few addictive beverages in the ancient market, so its consumption was sometimes controlled by law. In Rome, there were once demands for laws to be established regarding women's alcohol consumption.
"Wine consumption is inextricably linked to many religious rituals. In ancient Greek and Roman times, the production and trade of wine occupied a very important economic position. Wine often appeared in various forms of meetings and was a source of inspiration for writers and composers. Ancient banquets often became a stage for many poets to create, a point reflected in a large number of ancient poems." (Bowie, 1986).
People regarded wine as an important item distinct from other beverages like fruit juice or goat milk. No one regulated how fruit juice was consumed or in what quantities; goat milk never held an important status in religion; those who did not drink goat milk were not burdened with the nickname of "water-drinker"; other beverages were not sources of inspiration for composers and writers; nor were these beverage industries important economic foundations at the time.
During that period, wine was almost the only beverage that existed in all fields and was closely integrated with them. Ancient people were more accustomed to drinking wine than Westerners today. It played an important role in the economic activities of the time, integrated into people's daily lives, and became a part of ancient Greek and Roman culture.
At that time, in order to regulate people's alcohol consumption, many poems, drinking etiquette, and cautionary stories about balancing and restraining alcohol intake were created.
Although excessive drinking was dangerous, in ancient times, wine and its consumption activities were still conducted with the highest standards. Wine was an important part of Greek and Roman dietary culture and has always been regarded as a symbol of wisdom and culture at that time. It is difficult for any other diet to achieve such a status.
In religion, culture, and the economy, wine also held an irreplaceable status. The "wine" in ancient Greek and Roman culture is not the wine we understand today. But we can try to understand wine's position as a cultural leader. To this day, wine has become an essential beverage in the lives of many modern Westerners, completely integrated into people's lives.