[fhayek]

I believe that was how beer started out. The brewing (and the alcohol) probably killed a lot of pathogens that might be found in other natural sources of water. It was a way to preserve grain and provide caloric intake.

...And it made ugly girls look hot on a Saturday night...

[ConservativeInPA]

It was the latter. They didn’t have paper bags back then.

[FLT-bird]

No doubt many of us can thank our existence to alcohol....both in preserving life and in making ugly girls look hot - at least for the night.