[Alcohol and the heart : Anecdotes on the history of a checkered relationship]

The cultural and natural scientific ambivalence of the heart and alcohol has long been the subject of philosophical, artistic, intellectual and emotional discussions, not uncommonly in a romanticizing manner. The indulgence of alcoholic beverages in moderation is contrasted by the inestimable risks and dangers of alcohol abuse with many cardiovascular implications, such as cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy and arterial hypertension. The inspirational mental effects of alcohol have been emphasized in many citations from Classical Antiquity through the Middle Ages and even in modern times. In addition to wine and beer many alcoholic drinks, such as Champagne, sparkling wines, whisky (or whiskey), brandy (Cognac) and fruit brandies have a nearly ritual culture of traditions and customs, without which social life would be unthinkable. The interplay between enjoyment and displeasure is emphasized in the year 2016 with the 500-year jubilee of the German purity requirements for beer with countless events, including the Bavarian State Exhibition 2016. Recently, evidence of a neuroprotective effect of alcohol was reported with an improvement of intellectual capacity, which could counteract the widely occurring dementia syndrome. Millions of people could profit from this effect.