Someone today told me it is legal in the UK for children of SIX years old upwards to be given alcohol in their parents home!!!! Can anyone verify this?
Necessity played a large part. Plain water was just undrinkable in the large towns and cities so beer was routinely drunk , the government promoted large scale manufacture and distribution of gin (late 17th century) and before then monks were happily making and selling wine to the populace.
I blame the Romans, they were a loose and excessive lot.