Sasha's Flower Garden

Some countries forbid the production and consumption of alcoholic beverages. In the United States, there was an attempt from 1920 to 1933 to eliminate the consumption of alcoholic beverages through national prohibition of their manufacture and sale. This period became known as the prohibition era. During this period the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States made manufacture, sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages illegal throughout the United States. However, this project led to the unintended consequences of causing widespread disrespect for the law as many people sought alcoholic beverages from illegal sources, and of creating a lucrative business for illegal purveyors of alcohol (bootleggers), which led to the development of organized crime. As a result prohibition became widely unpopular, leading to repeal of the 18th Amendment in 1933. Prior to national prohibition, beginning in the late 19th century, many states and loca... read more

Alcohol is a moderately good solvent for many fatty substances and essential oils. This attribute facilitates the use of flavoring and coloring compounds in alcoholic beverages, especially distilled beverages. Flavors may be naturally present in the beverage’s base material. Beer and wine may be flavored before fermentation. Spirits may be flavored before, during, or after distillation. Sometimes flavor is obtained by allowing the beverage to stand for months or years in oak barrels, usually American or French oak. A few brands of spirits have fruit or herbs inserted into the bottle at the time of bottling. Uses In many countries, people drink alcoholic beverages at lunch and dinner. Studies have found that when food is eaten before drinking alcohol, alcohol absorption is reduced and the rate at which alcohol is eliminated from the blood is increased. The mechanism for the faster alcohol elimination appears to be unrelated to the type of fo... read more

In the United Kingdom, serving size in licensed premises is regulated under the Weights and Measures Act (1985). Spirits (gin, whisky, rum, and vodka) must be sold in quantities of 25 ml or multiples thereof, or 35 ml or multiples thereof. A sign must be displayed stating whether the 25 ml or the 35 ml measure is being used. Beer is typically served in pints (568 ml), but it can also be legally served in half-pints or third-pints. Traditionally, a crown stamp on a beer glass was used to indicate that the glass contained a full-sized measure. In 2008, after more than 300 years’ use, this stamp was replaced by the Europe-wide mark “CE” (Conformite Europeenne). Leading breweries and pub companies campaigned against its removal. Europe outside the British Isles In pubs or restaurants, beer is usually served in glasses of 400 or 500 ml, but this can vary, up to one litre. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholic_beverage... read more