Hi, David--

In finally sorting through over 200 e-mail postings I have either meant to
answer or store, I came across this one (which I had meant to answer when I
got it).

I think so little is available on alcohol because the only people in the
western world who don't drink are either extremists or those who've had a
problem with it and quit.  As a result, so few students and teachers want
either to talk or hear about the subject that printing such works would not
be profitable.  The issue of drugs, on the other hand, is a sexy topic,
because we have smugly rendered these illegal.  If we were to study alcohol
too closely, we'd have to deal sooner or later with its function as an
actual enabler of western culture, a less-than-enobling phenomenon.  I don't
think most people are inclined to do that.

Your latest bombardment of sources is most welcome.  I will store them in my
research file.  Today.

Gay


----- Original Message -----
From: "David Fahey" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 8:07 AM
Subject: Re: teaching alcohol and drugs history


> It's interesting that nearly all the suggestions have concerned drugs
> other
> than alcohol (or drugs including alcohol), rarely alcohol or temperance
> alone.  Is this because the books in this final category aren't available
> in paperback?  Or are too specialized for undergraduates?