Public Service Announcement: Paleolithic Alcoholics

August 14, 2009|Richard Nikoley||

Well, based on this, it would be hard to argue that alcohol has no place in our evolution.

That’s part of why I’m here: to bring you good news.

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9 Comments

  1. Grok on August 14, 2009 at 13:16

    I used to love watching this when i was a kid!



  2. Aaron Blaisdell on August 14, 2009 at 16:08

    They must be easy prey for the top predators to capture. I wonder if the predators could get a second-hand inebriation?



    • Don Matesz on August 15, 2009 at 09:42

      Yes, alcohol was there, but did any animal adapt to it. Clearly these would be easy prey — cutting short reproductive success — being drunk is clearly maladaptive.

      My point: due to the seasonal nature of fruits, this is a very occasional occurence in nature. If it had occurred regularly, natural selection (predators) would have weeded out those who got drunk easily, and what we’d have now would be animals (including humanimals) that could drink alcohol without any impairment.



      • Richard Nikoley on August 15, 2009 at 09:53

        I agree. Of course, the post was largely tongue in cheek.

        If there is any role in evolution, it’s that alcohol isn’t poison in small quantities.



  3. amie on August 14, 2009 at 16:27

    *sparks a memory* I remember watching this as a movie as a kid and my parents just chuckling through the whole thing. What is it from?



  4. Shantelle on August 15, 2009 at 12:32

    Seeing this reminds me that several times you have noted that you were drinking, I would love to get yours and others’ opinions on consuming alcohol while sticking with an ancestral eating style… I personally love a good whiskey on occasion.



    • Richard Nikoley on August 16, 2009 at 09:11

      Well, alcohol is one of those areas I probably still need to work on. It has probably slowed my progress. One the other hand, I’ve progressed in spite, so for me, it appears not to be a great big deal.



    • Richard Nikoley on August 16, 2009 at 09:15

      Also, however, I never drink sweet drinks. It’s usually some spirit (scotch, usually), either neat, on the rocks, or with club soda, and at most a squeeze of lemon or lime (vodka or tequila). I don’t drink but one beer every month or so, and Ii only sip at red wine occasionally. Big wine snob, I am, and it has to be very good (irrespective of price — many good inexpensives) for me to go beyond a few sips with a meal.



  5. Jonathan on August 17, 2009 at 21:57

    If you were an animal and unwittingly got drunk which would you least like to be?

    Ostrich trying to navigate on two spindly legs?

    Elephant trying to navigate on four HEAVY legs, plus a wild trunk and sharp pointy tusks?

    Or, a giraffe?

    For me, it would be a giraffe. Man, that would be along fall.

    Thanks for the fun!