-"The one thing everybody knows about Odonians, I suppose, is that you don't drink alcohol. Is that true, by the way?"
-"Some people distil alcohol from fermented hollum root, for drinking - thay say it gives the unconscious free play, like brainwave training.Most people prefer that, it's very easy and doesn't cause a disease. Is that common here?"
-"Drinking is. I don't know about this disease. What's it called?"
-"Alcoholism, I think."
-"Oh, i see...But what do working people do on Anarres for a bit of jollity, to escape the woes of the world together for a night?"
Shevek looked blank. "Well, we...I don't know. Perhaps our woes are inescapable?"