Final answer:
Historical labor practices included providing workers with alcohol as wages and having one worker read to others. This reflects a time before labor policies considered workers' health, contrasting with the idea of giving free non-alcoholic beverages and snacks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historically, workers were often promised alcohol as part of their compensation, especially when the nature of work was physically demanding or tedious. This practice reflects the societal norms and labor policies of the past. To maintain morale and reduce the tedium of work, it was not uncommon for one worker to be designated to read a book or a newspaper aloud to others during the labor process. The statement seems to suggest that workers, who might have been provided with alcoholic beverages as part of their wages, should instead be given free non-alcoholic beverages and snacks depending on the policy of the establishment. This could indicate a shift away from earlier labor practices towards a healthier work environment where workers' wellbeing is considered. In earlier times, adaptations to working conditions were made in response to the weather, such as opening doors and windows in warm weather, and ceasing work when visibility was poor. These historical insights provide context for understanding changes in labor policies over time.