Liquor in the 20th century underwent major challenges. The biggest was prohibition. During the early 20th century some countries established, and later repealed, prohibition. They included Canada, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and the United States. Referenda to establish prohibition failed in Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden.1 Liquor in the 20th Century & Beyond by Date …
Tag: Centuries
Liquor in the 19th century: History of Distilled Spirits Timeline
The major event impacting liquor in the 19th century was the growth of a very powerful temperance movement. It began by calling for moderation in consumption. In general, that meant drinking less. But the temperance movement was victim to a myth that continues to this day. Its supporters failed to understand that a standard drink …
Liquor in the 18th century: History of Distilled Spirits Timeline
The popularity of alcohol in Europe as a medicine was very high.1 But the big story of liquor in the 18th century was its dramatic growth as a beverages. This was especially the case for gin. Liquor in the 18th Century by Date 1707-1725 England and Scotland merged under the Acts of Union, creating …
Liquor in the 17th Century: History of Distilled Spirits Timeline
Over the course of the 1600s, distilling expanded as did the demand for spirit beverages. Thus, liquor in the 17th century expanded significantly. ‘From the end of the sixteenth century, distilled drinks were to be found throughout the West.’1 ‘While distilling industries were slow to develop, they expanded in the mid-to-late seventeenth century. The rise …
Liquor in the 16th century: History of Distilled Spirits Timeline
The development of liquor in the 16th century was slow. The production and distribution of spirits spread very gradual. Spirit drinking was still largely for medicinal purposes throughout most of the sixteenth century. It has been said of distilled alcohol that ‘the sixteenth century created it; the seventeenth century consolidated it; the eighteenth popularized it.’1 …
Liquor in the 15th Century: History of Distilled Spitits Timeline
The history of liquor in the 15th century was one of gradual advance. Distilled spirit was generally flavored with juniper berries. The result was known as junever. That’s the Dutch word for ‘juniper.’ The French changed the name to genievre. The English changed to ‘geneva.’ They then modified it to ‘gin.’2 Russians liked their grain …
Alcohol During the Renaissance: 15th & 16th Centuries
The consumption of alcohol during the Renaissance could be moderate to heavy. However, drunkenness was a sin. The Renaissance (‘rebirth’ or ‘revival’) refers to the period from about 1300 to about 1600. During that time there was a revival of knowledge, art, architecture and science. It began in Italy and spread throughout the rest of …
Alcohol in the 17th Century: Age of Discovery
Alcohol in the 17th century experienced change. It was the Age of Discovery. European countries were rapidly expanding their exploration of the world. They made not only geographic discoveries, but material discoveries as well. Alcohol in the 17th Century From the end of the sixteenth century, distilled drinks existed throughout the West.’1 The Dutch came …
Alcohol in the Mid-20th Century: 1934 to 1979
The story of alcohol in the mid-20th century was tame compared to earlier in the century. Here we look at the period from 1934 to 1979. By 1930, an economic depression had begun around the world. In the U.S., National Prohibition had been under increasing attacks by those who wanted to repeal it. The desire …
Alcohol in the Early 20th Century: Temperance & Prohibition
Alcohol in the early 20th century saw dramatic changes. The growth of the temperance movements developed rapidly. This was both in the U.S. and around the world. Prohibitionists believed that a world without beverage alcohol was an attainable goal. The growth of the Progressive movement in the U.S. was significant. It held that governments could …