Wherever and whenever people have been found talking they have been found drinking an ageold pastime with an equally storied history. Alcohol and civilization have developed in close quarters sometimes supporting each other and sometimes getting in each others way.The School of Sophisticated Drinking which began as an ongoing series of lectures at Berlinampamp8217s legendary Victoria Bar in 2003 traces the deepseated lineage of drinking in the social political and even scientific developments of our culture. Appealing to both expert drinkers and novice barflies each chapter delves into the sociopolitical significance of and technological innovations behind a familiar wine or spiritampamp151brandy vodka whisky rum gin tequila and champagneampamp151and shares plenty of tales of adventure from the glamour of Hollywood and Broadway to the tormented worlds of wellknown writers to the outbreak of wars and the unending struggle for economic and military power.