Fermented beverages existed in early Egyptian civilisation, and there is evidence of an early alcoholic drink (rice wine) made out of the fermentation of rice, honey and fruits in China around 7000 B.C. and are known to have independently mastered the process of distillation. In India, an alcoholic beverage called sura, distilled from rice, was in use between 3000 and 2000 B.C. Much before the birth of Christ, consumption as well as celebration of the beverages was a part of many ancient civilisations, such as the Babylonians, who worshipped a wine goddess as early as 2700 B.C. In Greece, one of the first alcoholic beverages to gain popularity was mead, a fermented drink made from honey and water. Evidence of alcoholic beverages has been found in ancient Egypt as well, dating back to 3150 BC. Beer, which is an alcoholic beverage of low alcohol volume, was an everyday drink for people of all classes in Europe during the Middle Ages.The most common usage of alcohol (spirits) was for medicinal purposes, and they were being mass-manufactured only after the 17th century and gained momentum only after the British Parliament passed a law encouraging the usage of grains for distilling spirits. But after rising incidents of citizens breaking the law under the influence, the American as well as British governments imposed a ban on the manufacturing, sale, import, and export of intoxicating liquors.