I know this idea isn’t super widely supported, but I think it has some merit. If that’s the case though, having large populations who didn’t drink alcohol would realistically cause issues, especially in water-scarce regions like the Middle East and North Africa.
I know this idea isn’t super widely supported, but I think it has some merit.
I'm afraid that, in fact, there is no merit at all. As it is my life's work to kill this myth, I refer you to my post on this specific topic.
For the MENA region specifically, a user who no longer wishes to be tagged has a post re the region's water sources.
Random: the qanat remains my second-favourite water technology of the Islamic world, right after the noria.