I noted elsewhere that the Chinese working on the transcontinental RR stayed healthier than others because they drank only weak tea from boiled water.
Wine and beer became popular because you wouldn't usually get sick by drinking them, the same with cider. My bud in France related to me how they drink cider all year because the water was bad. He noted the cider got rather nasty just before they made new. This was in Brittany prewar.
