Vintage Guinness ads are fantastic.
Having had problems with alcohol in my life, I don't like it in a literal sense, because alcohol is not always good for you. Most of the time, actually, not so. However, I see what they are getting at (don't worry, get messed up, have fun) and I wholeheartedly approve.
Back in the day, of course, beer was the healthful temperance drink for clean living, at least in comparison to that demon gin.
Which makes sense: it was low-alcohol, high-calorie (and hydration), a legitimately important source of nutrition for many rather than just an ethanol delivery source.
Very good point. The vast majority of "incidents" I had with alcohol (drinking too much, being too belligerent, feeling like absolute death after, etc.) during my college and frat days were all due to consuming hard liquors. The only trouble beer ever got me into is lowering my inhibitions to the point where I was down to take shots.
And yes, the illustrations themselves are wonderful. I had a beer glass for a while that had the toucan balancing a Guinness on his beak. Don't know what happened to that thing : (
