The Ethics of Drinking

This chapter deals with drinking from an ethical perspective. It does not focus on the conditions related to the abuse of drinks or finding ways to recover from such abuse. It is mainly about understanding what is a good, fair way in which humans can relate with a world of which the liquid dimension is a constitutive element and requires to be protected. Again, to discuss such points we need to broaden our perspective. This chapter shows that not only the planet we live in but even us humans are made of water, so we have a vital need of water. Therefore, it shows that water is a relational resource. Then, this chapter runs through the other fluids, spirits and soft drinks, that are part of our diet and the right way we can enjoy them. Then, it gets back to reflecting on water, this time from a global perspective, by looking into the social, economic, political problems attendant on water management. Finally, it develops, once again from the relational perspective that informs all this book, some guidelines for an ethics of drinking.