A drink is a popular liquid designed for consumption. Along with their main function of quenching thirst, beverages also play important symbolic roles in contemporary human society. Common varieties of beverages include juice, milk, soda and water. Typically, beverages are heated so they become more attractive and appetizing. However, traditionally warm beverages such as tea, coffee, hot chocolate and iced tea were served hot.

In the United States, alcoholic beverages account for the largest volume of sales. Although the sale of alcoholic beverages has declined steadily over the past few years, it still accounts for one of the country’s biggest market shares. At one time, only liquor was sold in stores. Today, however, nearly all groceries, restaurants, bars and hotels sell alcohol. One reason for this trend is that a single drink can represent multiple dollars at a time, especially in today’s difficult economy.

Over the course of history, various kinds of drink have developed and been categorized according to function and purpose. In some societies, beer is the common social drink, while in others it is viewed as a luxury item. In both cases, beer and other common standard drinks are grouped into several main types.

One of the oldest types of alcoholic beverages is water. Water, considered to be a “nutrient-dense” beverage that has low to no alcohol content, is typically consumed to hydrate the body and relieve hunger. The average water content of an 8 ounce glass is about 1.2 percent alcohol by volume.

One type of drink that has a relatively low level of alcohol content is lemonade. Lemonade is often served at parties, though it has also been found to be used in desert climates for healing purposes. Lemonade, a clear fluid, may contain up to two percent alcohol, but the flavor is much like the original lemonade beverage made by “nymphomania” people of the past. Another drink commonly found at parties is sparkling wine, which may be drunk with meals or as an accompaniment to the main meal. A bottle of sparkling wine contains about two percent alcohol.

Most wines are sold in packets containing about a percent alcohol content. The content of the alcohol in a drink can vary, depending on what kind of wine it is. Many red wines have about four percent alcohol. The best way to determine the alcohol content of a drink is to hold it close to your mouth and inhale the aroma. The alcohol will evaporate, giving you a real estimate of how much you have drank.