Alcohol in Early America (Encore)

Social Hub

Taverns were the heart of early American communities, serving as hubs for social interaction and family gatherings. Gary Arndt explains that these establishments were integral to daily life, where people of all ages could come together. He shares an example of a party hosted by George Washington, where the amount of alcohol consumed was astonishing: 54 bottles of Madeira wine, 60 bottles of claret wine, and much more 1.

The center of most American communities in the early United States was the tavern. It was over drinks that American independence was debated and plotted.

--- Gary Arndt

   

Political Discussions

Taverns also played a crucial role in the political landscape of early America. Gary Arndt notes that these venues were where American independence was debated and plotted, making them central to the nation's founding. The inclusive nature of taverns meant that political ideas could be discussed openly among a diverse group of people 1.

The tavern was also the center of social life, and it didn't have the same stigma that going to a bar might have today. You could totally bring your family and children.

--- Gary Arndt

   

Consumption Rates

The sheer volume of alcohol consumed by early Americans is staggering. Gary Arndt reveals that in 1790, the average American, including men, women, and children, consumed 3.5 gallons of pure alcohol per year. By 1820, this had increased to four gallons per year, far surpassing modern consumption rates 1.

When you factor in that babies don't drink alcohol, and most consumption was done by adult men, the average adult man consumed the equivalent of 16 gallons per year of 90 proof alcohol.

--- Gary Arndt

   

Temperance Movement

The excessive alcohol consumption eventually led to the temperance movement. Gary Arndt explains that as opinions on alcohol began to change, doctors no longer saw it as beneficial, and the temperance movement gained momentum. This movement ultimately culminated in the 18th Amendment, marking a significant shift in American society 1.

So many people were inebriated, especially men, that it began one of the largest and subsequently forgotten movements in American history, the temperance movement.

--- Gary Arndt