Sack-posset Popular drink in England and the colonies during the early 1600s. Made with sack, ale, cream, eggs, and seasonings mixed together and boiled for several hours. Served at weddings, christenings, and parties.

Sacramental Wine Altar wine used for the Eucharist (may be red or white, though must be made from natural grape juice).

Saké Strong Japanese beer made from rice and named after the town Osaka, where it was first produced. Saloon Bar or tavern where drinks are served at tables.

Sampson Popular drink in United States during the eighteenth century. Made with rum and cider.

Sangria Red wine to which fruit juice has been added.

Saturday Night Drinker One who drinks heavily only on weekends.

Satyr Goat-like men in Greek mythology who drank and danced in Dionysus's train.

Sauterne Sweet white table wine.

Schnapps German term for any form of spirits with a high alcohol content, such as brandy, gin, or whiskey.

Schooner 1. Large glass for beer. 2. Place where alcohol is sold illegally.

Schuckit, Marc A. Author of the book "Drug and Alcohol Abuse"

Scotch Slang term for whiskey from Scotland.

Scotchem Popular early American drink made with apple jack, boiling water, and a dash of mustard. Mostly consumed in New Jersey.

Screaming Abdams Delirium Tremens.

Scrumpy Slang term for rough, draught cider.

Sec French term used to describe dry white wines.

Sediment Solid insoluble material which falls to the bottom of a cask or wine bottle after it has been standing for some time.

Session Slang term for a heavy drinking bout.

Séve French brandy-based orange liqueur.

Shebeen Illegal bar.

Sherry Spanish fortified wine produced in Andalusia.

Shit-faced Slang term for intoxicated.

Side-effects Symptoms caused by prescribed medication.

Skid Row Slang term used in the U.S.A. to describe a deprived area inhabited by heavy drinkers.

Skid Row Bum American slang term for homeless heavy drinker.

Skinful 1. Drunk. 2. Having consumed a large amount of liquor.

Skoal Drinking toast.

Slate Slang term for buying drinks in a public house for payment at a later date.

Sleep disturbance Common feature of alcohol withdrawal. Often involves difficulty getting off to sleep, frequent waking during the night and nightmares.

Slewed Slang term for drunk.

Slivovitz Polish plum brandy.

Sloe Gin Sloe-flavoured gin also known as stirrup cup.

Sloshed Slang term for drunk.

Slug Slang term for a drink of spirits.

Small Beer 1. Weak beer; beer of inferior quality and taste. 2. Second extract from fermented malt, taken after the ale has been drained away.

Snakes Slang term for delirium tremens.

Sneakeasy Illegal bar.

Snifter 1. Small drink of spirits. 2. Small short-stemmed glass.

Snug Small room in a public house often used for private drinking.

Soak Slang term for a heavy drinker.

Sober Not under the influence of alcohol or other intoxic.

Sobriety 1. Temperate in drinking. 2. Abstinent.

Social Drinking Drinking in moderation, usually in the company of others.

Sour Mash Method of producing whiskey in which the corn and rye mixture is scalded with a previously discarded distillate.

Sozzled Slang term for drunk.

Sparkling Wine Wines that contain carbon dioxide.

Speakeasy Slang term used during prohibition in the U.S.A. to describe an illegal drinking outlet.

Spike A Drink To lace a drink with strong spirits or drugs (such as tranquillisers).

Spritzer German term for white wine and soda water.

Spumante Italian sparkling wine.

Squiffy Slang term for intoxication.

Steam Beer Beer fermented at a very high temperature causing the container to build up considerable pressure. Heavily hopped with a bitter taste.

Stoned Slang term for intoxicated.

Stoned out of his Mind Slang term for heavily intoxicated.

Stone-wall Popular drink in U.S. during eighteenth century, made with rum and cider.

Straight Corn Moonshine whiskey made from corn alone. No sugar is added and no attempt is made to adulterate it in any way.

Straight Whiskey Whiskey made from grain mash, distilled at no more than 80 percent alcohol, and aged for at least two years.

Swig 1. Popular drink in England during the eighteenth century. Made from spiced ale, wine, and toast. 2. Large amount of alcohol consumed in one long swallow.

Switchel Weak alcoholic drink popular in New England during colonial period. Made with cider, water, and spices.

Syllabub Popular drink in England and the United States during the eighteenth century. Made with wine and milk or cream to which sugar and sometimes spices were added.

Synergistic Combination of drug agents which results in a greater effect than that which would be produced by each drug agent alone.