Popularity of Vodka
As stated in the Deep History page, vodka has been on the international scene since its first exportation to Sweden in 1505. Vodka has managed to stay relevant amidst many other spirits prevalence, giving way for the question as what makes vodka so appealing. Here, at the University of Michigan, I conducted an interview with two members of a fraternity recognized by the university. In order to protect the identities of the two interviewed, I will refer to them as Alex (age 20) and Lucas (age 20). In the interview, we discussed what their favorite type of alcoholic beverage is, regardless of whether it is a mixed drink or not. Alex responded with jungle juice, stating that vodka has a mild taste relative to other liquors, making it easier and more pleasant to mix with other beverages. Lucas responded with vodka and pre-workout mix, a combination that he recommends to no one, as it is very dangerous. He says that it's like mixing Red Bull and vodka, except there's no liquid in the mixing; it's just vodka and stimulant. I followed this answer with a question asking why they both chose vodka as their favorite alcohol. Alex responded by saying that vodka is easily accessible and has a mild taste, making it versatile for drinking. Lucas agreed with Alex's position on the question [5].
Unfortunately, science can't empirically count for everyone's personal preferences in spirits. However, science has proven that the necessity for vodka amongst alcoholics is a psychological state. According to Engle et al. an ounce of vodka drank by an alcoholic does not produce the same need to drink if the alcoholic does not know that they have alcohol [2]. In short, vodka has a placebo effect for those who find it addictive. The body does not show any chemical or physiological crave for it [2]. Damaris et al. suggests that vodka, when compared to bourbon, results in less severe hangovers and greater reactivity the day after drinking [6]. Vodka is a commonplace drink in the United States. It's name brings about a connotation, as explained by Engle et al., that provides a mental state of desire. These scientific studies could perhaps explain part of the phenomenon as to why vodka has become so large in United States culture, a country thousands of miles away from the point source of vodka.
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Sources Used: [2] [5] [6]