Alcohol Imitates Life: The Historic Role of Alcohol in European Society from 1648-1948
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Period: to
Historic Role of Alcohol in Society
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A Merry Party
"A Merry Party" was painted in 1660 by Dutch painter Jan Steen. It depicts a scene of everyday life where people are merry and alcohol is a source of enjoyment. -
Gin Lane
"Gin Lane" is a sketch that was done by William Hogarth in 1751. It is a social criticism of British society which was going through a gin craze. Alcohol is used as a vice to deal with poverty. -
Russian propinacja ban
In 1812, the Russian government banned Jews from distilling and selling their own alcohol. This ban reflected the mindset of oppression and discrimination towards the Jews. Taking away alcohol was just a physical representation of this abuse. -
La serveuse de bocks
Edouard Manet painted "La serveuse de bocks" in 1879 as an illustration of changing times for alcohol. Public drunkenness was a problem and beer was promoted in order to get people to stop drinking hard liquors. -
L’Alcool, voilà l’ennemi
Around 1900, Doctor Galtier-Boissiere ceated a poster entitled "L'alcool, voila l'ennemi" for an anti-alcohol campaign. With the rise in education, schools were the perfect place to preach the message of sobriety. The role of alcohol in society was declining due to campaigns like this one. -
Report on drinking conditions
Between April and May of 1918, the British government released a report on drinking conditions for women and girls. Because they needed support on the home front, alcohol consumption was discouraged and thus its role in society became even less important.
