Public Talk: Booze and Culture
A black-and-white photograph of a person standing outdoors on open land, holding a glass with a light-colored drink, with a small round tent-like structure in the background.
Grab a drink and join us for a talk on Booze and Culture by Dr Kirk French, Professor of Anthropology at The Pennsylvania State University.
Booze and Culture is a course developed by French to introduce students to the basic concepts of anthropology by highlighting the variability of alcohol use through time and space. This talk gives you a snapshot of the course, which explores the historical and societal impacts of alcohol production from the world’s first beer in Henan, China in 7000 BCE to local craft breweries. From the ceremonial use of fermented horse milk (airag) in Mongolia to ritualized tailgating at sporting events, you will be presented with a global history of alcohol and introduced to the highly varied ways in which alcohol is produced and consumed.
Dr Kirk French, Professor of Anthropology at The Pennsylvania State University in the US, teaches the largest anthropology course in the US with 1500 students taking Booze and Culture every year.
Event Information
- Date: Monday 15 June 2026 from 6:30pm - 9:00pm
- Location: The Happy Wombat | 2/575 Hunter St, Newcastle West NSW, 2302
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.