Reflection Paper on Distilled Products
The first thing that came into my mind upon hearing about the paper’s topic was drinking water, since we have what we call “distilled water,” a type of purified drinking water. After knowing that it was actually about alcohol my curiosity was aroused – mainly due to the fact that I’m under the legal drinking age. Anyone would like to have at least some information beforehand at what they’ll be doing, or in this case, drinking.
Before reading the chapter I thought I already had considerable knowledge on alcoholic beverages. I knew there were different types of beer and wine; although I never had a clue on how each type is different from another. I didn’t have a clear understanding on what ingredients were used for each kind, how it was brewed, how the process of distillation affected the alcohol content, and what history distilled products have.
Another thing that I feel important is to have the ability to distinguish them apart not only by reading the printed name on the bottle but also by tasting it. Coupled with the knowledge you have on the average alcohol content of each beverage, it could help determine which type of drink is more suitable in varying situations. Here’s an example to help defend my case: knowing what to drink when you’re with your friends at home and while taking a break from skiing. In the first scenario you could bring out the strongest beers or wines you have that has a higher alcohol content than what average drinks have since you and your friends are inside a house and most probably are staying there for the night. On the second scenario, you might prefer lighter drinks because you don’t want to be too intoxicated, hindering you from skiing normally, thus making you commit more unnecessary errors and reduce the fun factor of the said activity.
The prohibition, on the other hand, really had an honest cause of helping alleviate alcohol dependency and violence associated with alcohol intake. It succeeded on diminishing reported cases to some extent, but ultimately failed the goal to completely eradicate such problems due to, I guess, human nature. Although I wouldn’t reconsider this in our present time since I assume individuals are more responsible nowadays. Or maybe it’s because rehabilitation centers are more accessible now, but either way I believe the society doesn’t have a reason to support another prohibition.
I think people don't have to be a beer aficionado to enjoy drinking; just as long as they keep in mind what I think is key information on keeping track of themselves and on what they drink so as to avoid turning it into an addiction.
