When Did We First Start Getting Drunk?

When did ancient humans start drinking alcohol? Discover how a prehistoric accident with rotten fruit sparked a habit that shaped civilization. We often think of alcohol as a modern indulgence, but our relationship with fermented beverages goes back much further than the first cities. This video traces the origins of the history of alcohol, starting with our ape ancestors who first encountered the buzz of fermented fruit. By examining the biological and archaeological evidence, we can see how our bodies adapted to process these drinks long before we mastered the art of brewing. From the debate over whether beer predates bread to the role of ancient beer in social bonding and settlement at places like Göbekli Tepe, we look at how drinking changed our species. We also explore the darker side of this history and why ancient Egyptians and early Mesopotamians valued these drinks so highly. It is a story of human evolution viewed through the lens of what we choose to put in our cups. If this look at our past surprised you, leave a comment telling us which ancient drink you would most like to try, and subscribe to Once Upon A Human for more stories about where we come from. CHAPTERS 0:00 A rotten fruit, 10 million years ago 0:33 What fermentation is 0:51 The drunken monkey idea 1:19 The enzyme that changed everything 2:01 Chimpanzees that drink palm wine 2:34 The first beer? 3:30 Drinking together 3:48 Beer at Göbekli Tepe? 4:31 Beer before bread? 5:20 The oldest drinks we know 6:19 Beer in the first cities 6:50 Ancient Egypt's beer 7:38 Nobody knew how it worked 8:04 The dark side 8:27 Putting it all together If this surprised you, leave a like, tell us in the comments which ancient drink you'd most like to try, and subscribe to Once Upon A Human for more stories about where we come from. #history #prehistory #science #historyofalcohol #beer #wine #ancientbeer #fermentation #evolution #humanevolution #ancientegypt #mesopotamia #archaeology #anthropology #explained #animatedhistory #onceuponahuman