Editing Drink (section)

==History==
[[File:Baco, por Caravaggio.jpg|thumb|left|[[Caravaggio]]'s interpretation of [[Bacchus]]]]

[[Drinking]] has been a large part of socialising throughout the centuries. In [[ancient Greece]], a social gathering for the purpose of drinking was known as a [[symposium]], where watered down wine would be drunk. The purpose of these gatherings could be anything from serious discussions to direct indulgence. In [[ancient Rome]], a similar concept of a ''convivium'' took place regularly.

Many early societies considered alcohol a gift from the gods,<ref name="Beverage Book">{{cite book|last=Katsigris|first=Costas|author2=Thomas, Chris|title=The Bar and Beverage Book|publisher=John Wiley and Sons|year=2006|pages=5–10|isbn=978-0-470-07344-5}}</ref> leading to the creation of gods such as [[Dionysus]]. Other religions forbid, discourage, or restrict the drinking of alcoholic drinks for various reasons. In [[List of countries with alcohol prohibition|some regions]] with a dominant religion the production, sale, and consumption of alcoholic drinks is forbidden to everybody, regardless of religion.

[[Toast (honor)|Toasting]] is a method of honoring a person or wishing good will by taking a drink.<ref name="Beverage Book" /> Another tradition is that of the [[loving cup]], at weddings or other celebrations such as sports victories a group will share a drink in a large receptacle, shared by everyone until empty.<ref name="Beverage Book" />

In East Africa and Yemen, coffee was used in native religious ceremonies. As these ceremonies conflicted with the beliefs of the Christian church, the [[Ethiopian Church]] banned the secular consumption of coffee until the reign of Emperor [[Menelik II]].<ref>{{cite book |first1=Richard |last1=Pankhurst |title=Economic History of Ethiopia |location=Addis Ababa |publisher=[[Addis Ababa University|Haile Selassie I University]] |year=1968 |page=198}}</ref> The drink was also banned in [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turkey during the 17th century for political reasons<ref name="hopkins2006">{{cite web|url=http://accidentalhedonist.com/food-stories-the-sultans-coffee-prohibition/ |title=Food Stories: The Sultan's Coffee Prohibition |last=Hopkins |first=Kate |date=March 24, 2006 |work=Accidental Hedonist |access-date=January 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120105621/http://accidentalhedonist.com/food-stories-the-sultans-coffee-prohibition/ |archive-date=November 20, 2012 }}<!-- doubtful WP:RS, but comments suggest it can be sourced to both "Devil's Cup" and "Devil's Picnic" --></ref> and was associated with rebellious political activities in Europe.