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Re: Central America
Jack Davis (ifjed@nmsua.nmsu.edu)
Fri, 24 Mar 1995 20:27:18 GMT
In article <3ks24q$64v@newsbf02.news.aol.com> carns@aol.com (Carns) writes:
>From: carns@aol.com (Carns)
>Subject: Central America
>Date: 23 Mar 1995 09:55:22 -0500
>I am looking for any info on the occurrence of alcoholism among the
>Indians in Central America.Is there a genetic link? or is that a myth I
>heard?
Alcoholism has been a huge problem for all Native American groups with
which I am familiar. Is there a genetic link? Maybe the fact that
Europeans have been consuming alcohol a lot longer than have Native
Americans who seem to not have had alcohol until the European colonization.
I suspect, therefore, that Euro-Americans have a bit more tolerance to
low-alcohol drinks than do natives, although purified alcohol has only
existed for what, 800 or 900 years, and now reeks havoc on us as well. At
some rituals I have witnessed in Mexico, the natives certainly did like to
get smashed. Prior to alcohol, drug consumption was a big activity. It
might not be genetic, it might just be a different attitude about how one
gets in touch with the gods.
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