I was watching a youtube video about food and drinks from ancient Roman times and they began explaining how the lower class Roman's that couldnt afford wine drank a drink called posca, and that it was a mixture of water, vinegar, and (probably) herbs. I don't see how water and vinegar could somehow become inebriating and how this could possibly be a substitute for wine. But apparently it was THE drink of Roman soldiers. I don't get it.
posca was made from acetum, a very low-quality brewed wine. It was not actually vinegar, though it was so poor that it was on the spectrum and headed towards the taste of vinegar. It was watered down with...water and yes, we have some scattered evidence of herbal additives. Every soldier probably had their own special recipe. It was alcoholic and could get you buzzed, though as with most wines in the ancient world, it was less alcoholic by volume than modern wine, and was always mixed with water (even the good stuff).