HEART OF SOCIETY The humble pub has evolved over the last 2,000 years to become a place where hands are warmed, games are played and friends are made
TOPFOTO X2
Humans were drinking alcohol before records began, and the inherent sociability of booze, especially relatively low-strength drinks such as beer, means we’ve always gathered communally to do it. From archaeological findings, we can deduce that the earliest fermented beverages were consumed as part of religious rites, intoxication bringing us closer to the deities of the day. But by 3000 BC at the latest, drink was a social as well as a religious experience.
BOOZE BRITAIN LEFT: Early alehouses would each brew their own distinctive tipple BELOW: The origins of the pub lie with Roman tabernae BOTTOM: These tankards date from the 14th century
ALAMY X2, GETTY X2, MARY EVANS X2, TOPFOTO X1