Mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage.

Is it true that Mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage?

Partly. Several sources describe mead as widely believed to be, or considered among, the oldest alcoholic beverages, with fermentation evidence dating to about 7000 BC. Others note intoxicating drinks were made in every age and place, and that the oldest alcohol residue (Jiahu) was a mixed wine-mead-sake, so the claim of mead being the single oldest is only partly supported.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 5 sources for, 2 against · Last checked 18 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Mead: The Oldest Alcoholic Beverage. (2016). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7648-2_26

1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Wine. (n.d.). en.wikisource.org. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica%2FWine

Tamang, J. P. (2024). Microbiology and Health Benefits of Traditional Alcoholic Beverages. play.google.com. https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=wGYGEQAAQBAJ&source=gbs_api

A beginner's guide to mead, the drink shaking off its 'ye olde' image | National Geographic. (n.d.). nationalgeographic.com. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/beginners-guide-mead

Mead. (2022). hdl.handle.net. http://hdl.handle.net/11449/221870

SUCEVEANU, E. & ALEXA, I. (2021). SENSORY AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF SOME VARIETIES OF ROMANIAN ARTISANAL MEAD. pubs.ub.ro. https://pubs.ub.ro/?pg=revues&rev=cscc6&num=202102&vol=2&aid=5277

Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Brewing. (n.d.). en.wikisource.org. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica%2C_Ninth_Edition%2FBrewing