How much truth is there in the saying “in vino veritas”?

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The expression “in vino veritas” dates back to Roman antiquity and means that the truth lies in the wine. The originator of this idiom was not the Romans, but the Greek poet Alkaios of Mytilene († around 580 BC). As a stimulant, wine already played an important role in antiquity. No wonder, because fermented grape juice softened the air and helped people relax.

The bottom line is the assumption that the truth comes to light under the influence of alcohol. During fermentation, yeast converts the sugars in grapes into alcohol. It is alleged that wine causes people to reveal their true feelings and thoughts that would have left them behind if they had been sober.

The truth and the frivolous are close together

The phrase gained increasing popularity over the millennia and found its way into the works of numerous writers, such as the Roman poet Pliny the Elder († 79), who in some of his writings emphasized the close connection between wine and constrained truth. The Roman poet and satirist Juvenal († 127 AD) also used metaphorically to show the idea of ​​honesty while drunk.

Over time, “in vino veritas” has become firmly entrenched in many cultures and countries, including Switzerland. However, you should not expect too much from the truth of the word. Alcohol consumption may impair judgment and self-control, which may lead to inaccurate or inappropriate statements. In this case, wine no longer contains truth, but imprudence.

Source : Blick