Drunkenness Accidents in the Light of Papyrus in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt

Wine and beer were the only known two types of drunkenness drinks in ancient Egypt, owing to the high price of wine, in spite of the presence of various kinds of it which were manufactured locally, only the upper classes of the society that binged having it at that time. As for beer, it was the most widespread drink among the public. In Ptolemaic and Roman periods, we find that foreign comers to Egypt preferred wine to beer. They also preferred importing other types of wine to other locally manufactured types.
This study is primarily aimed at presenting accidents caused by individuals who were intoxicated, whether because of wine or beer, in Egypt during the Ptolemaic and Roman times, through describing, analyzing and clarifying their significances, with an attempt to explain individuals’ reasons for being drunk, the attitude of the society and the governing administration from consuming such intoxicating beverages in general, and their attitude of drunkenness in particular.
Besides focusing on monitoring the reactions of individuals affected by these accidents, in addition to studying the legal position in Egypt -the period of study- of the drunken person and the damages, the violence and the crimes he caused to others in the society. Did the law consider his actions taking into account that he is unconscious: so lessened his sentence? Or has tightened it up to serve as an example for others in the society? And what are the legal arguments underlying either of the above mentioned two positions?