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Alcohol is brought to the colonies, initially to be used as a medicine.

1600s

DRUG
TFCM

Alcohol is considered safe, and capable of preventing illness and curing minor discomforts. It was viewed as the "Good Creature of God"–a gift from the "Almighty" that could relieve sorrow, "give courage to the soldier, endurance to the traveler, foresight to the statesman, and inspiration to the preacher" (White, 2014). It has many religious and ritual uses in this time period.