Introduction
-
James Nicholls
Abstract
This book deals with transformations that have characterised thinking about alcohol in England. It shows that the drink question has never been singular, even when it appeared to be. While this is a book about the politics of alcohol, it looks at the role of drink as a political issue in the widest sense. Drink is interesting for many reasons, but the main interest here is how ideas about drink provide an insight into the wider culture. The pub is, with good reason, seen as a social institution of unparalleled importance in English cultural life and beer has few equals in the pantheon of cultural signifiers of Englishness. And yet we have recently seen the phrase ‘Binge Britain’ become a media cliché; and when Tony Blair complained in 2004 that legislators faced a ‘new British disease’ of binge drinking he was not only repeating a sentiment commonplace in the contemporary press, but one which stretches back to some of the earliest texts examined by the book.
Abstract
This book deals with transformations that have characterised thinking about alcohol in England. It shows that the drink question has never been singular, even when it appeared to be. While this is a book about the politics of alcohol, it looks at the role of drink as a political issue in the widest sense. Drink is interesting for many reasons, but the main interest here is how ideas about drink provide an insight into the wider culture. The pub is, with good reason, seen as a social institution of unparalleled importance in English cultural life and beer has few equals in the pantheon of cultural signifiers of Englishness. And yet we have recently seen the phrase ‘Binge Britain’ become a media cliché; and when Tony Blair complained in 2004 that legislators faced a ‘new British disease’ of binge drinking he was not only repeating a sentiment commonplace in the contemporary press, but one which stretches back to some of the earliest texts examined by the book.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Introduction 1
- 1 A monstrous plant 5
- 2 Healths, toasts and pledges 21
- 3 A new kind of drunkenness 34
- 4 The politics of sobriety 51
- 5 A fascinating poison 59
- 6 Ungovernable passions 73
- 7 Odious monopolies 80
- 8 The last tyrant 96
- 9 A monstrous theory 109
- 10 The State and the trade 130
- 11 Central control 150
- 12 The study of inebriety 161
- 13 The pub and the people 180
- 14 Prevention and health 199
- 15 Beer orders 216
- 16 Drinking responsibly 233
- Conclusion 249
- Bibliography 263
- Index 278
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Introduction 1
- 1 A monstrous plant 5
- 2 Healths, toasts and pledges 21
- 3 A new kind of drunkenness 34
- 4 The politics of sobriety 51
- 5 A fascinating poison 59
- 6 Ungovernable passions 73
- 7 Odious monopolies 80
- 8 The last tyrant 96
- 9 A monstrous theory 109
- 10 The State and the trade 130
- 11 Central control 150
- 12 The study of inebriety 161
- 13 The pub and the people 180
- 14 Prevention and health 199
- 15 Beer orders 216
- 16 Drinking responsibly 233
- Conclusion 249
- Bibliography 263
- Index 278
