Prohibition in Britain
Lord Kinross describes how, during the first half of the eighteenth century, gin-drinking became a serious social evil.
The accession to the English throne of William and Mary marked a “Glorious Revolution,” not only in English political institutions but also in English drinking habits. In effect, it turned England from a country of ale- and wine-drinkers into a country of spirit-drinkers.
The impulse behind this change was the introduction from Holland of Geneva, otherwise juniper or genièvre, otherwise gin, for which King William was given the credit. A rhymester and distiller named Alexander Blunt thus apostrophized him:
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