Records of alcohol use dating back to pre-colonial Africa indicate that the misuse of alcohol was a rare occurrence among tribal African communities. The role of beer and wine was primarily restricted to use in religious and secular ceremonies, such as rites of passage, funerals, title taking, and social gathering with the purpose of fostering a sense of community solidarity (Christmon, 1995; Harper, 1976; James & Johnson, 1996). Within each of these settings, intoxication was viewed as unacceptable behavior, with the importance of the usage of alcohol placed on participation in the ritual being conducted rather than on becoming inebriated. Among some tribes, drinking in moderation was viewed as the ideal and drunkenness was seen as a sign of weakness.
