The dynamics of alcohol consumption are influenced by cultural norms and religious beliefs. For example, ancient Egyptians considered beer a staple of daily life and a vital element in religious ceremonies, while medieval European monastic orders became skilled vintners, harnessing the fermentation of wine for economic and spiritual purposes (25–28). Alcohol has been used for medicinal purposes, and the beliefs surrounding its efficacy have been ingrained in the traditional wisdom of many cultures. Before the discovery of successful inhalation anesthesia (29), alcohol was used as a sedative during surgeries and childbirth, as a stimulant for resuscitation (29), and as a medication to prevent premature labor (30). Tonics containing alcohol were believed to be healthy due to thermoregulatory and digestive benefits and common treatment for colds and fevers (31), and for several years, ethanol was used for its calories within parenteral nutrition (32). Up until the 1970s and the discovery of fetal alcohol syndrome, beliefs regarding drinking during pregnancy ranged from posing little or no risk (33) to benefiting mothers (34, 35). Likewise, the benefits of alcohol for lactating women and
