Sorry about that Lynne. Thought you may feel better if you read a little about the effects of Gin in England. Gin became popular after the accession of William of Orange in 1688. It provided an alternative to French Brandy at a time when there were political and religious differences with France. The government encouraged the local manufacture of gin as a way of using up low grade barley. Gin in the 18C, was described as "the principal cause of all the vice & debauchery committed among the inferior sort of people" and resulted in a "'drunken ungovernable set of people', and acquired its nickname of "Mother's Ruin". Before we condemn, we should remember that the conditions in the Gin Palaces, as the Gin Shops became known, were often much better than the homes in which the customers lived. and of course the gin would give them the "Dutch Courage" to carry on the daily drudgery of their lives. The tobacco smoke did not help, but they were not aware of its effects. Often entertainment was provided by itinerant bands of musicians. and such games as dominoes were popular. By 1740 the production of gin had increased to six times that of beer and because of its cheapness it became popular with the working classes. In London alone there were more than 7,500 gin houses - more than half of all drinking establishments. The total population of London at that time was about 750,000. Beer however had something of a reputation as a healthy drink as it was safer than water -small ale was manufactured primarily as an alternative to drinking unsafe water (remember the grave at Winchester Cathedral). Believing that Gin was responsible for the drunkenness and lawlessness of the working classes, the government in 1739 enacted the Gin Act which imposed high taxes on retailers. However the resulting riots caused the government to reduce the taxes. The 1751 Gin Act however was more successful. It forced distillers to sell only to licensed retailers and brought gin-shops under the jurisdiction of local magistrates. The Wine and Beerhouse Act 1869 re-introduced the stricter controls of the previous century. Of course many Brits now maintain that their reason for talking their gin is because the quinine in the tonic helps prevent malaria. It was a very popular drink in the Colonial Service.. Malaria is not a major health risk in North America which may explain why whisk(e)y is more popular.. David ----- Original Message ----- From: "lynne robinson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 10:57 AM Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] beerhouse keeper Elizabeth Little > Thanks, I guess :) > > Seems as if my ancestor was responsible for great devastation. On the other > hand, maybe its compensated for by the fact that, in Canada, one of my > relatives was a noted campaigner to make alcohol illegal. > > Lynne > > Quoting David Parker <[email protected]>: > > >> The The Beer House Act of 1830 was passed by the government of the Duke of >> Wellington with the aim of eliminating the evil influence of cheap gin and >> other sprits in the lives of the working class and to promote the healthier >> influence of beer. A licencee could not sell spirits. The act which enabled >> anyone liable for the poor rate to purchase a license for 2 guineas may not >> have reduced the consumption of spirits but did result in a large growth of >> beer houses in the urban working class area and an increase in the >> consumption of beer. Over 24,000 licences were issued in 1830 alone. It >> permitted an individual to sell beer from his own home or store, and had a >> devastating social effect on the working class and a disastrous economic >> effect on the established alcoholic beverage trade. > >> In the coming years restriction were gradually imposed and then recently >> reduced. >> >> David >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "lynne robinson" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 8:57 AM >> Subject: Re: [PORTSMOUTH-GOSPORT] beerhouse keeper Elizabeth Little >> >> >>> HI all, >>> >>> Since it seems to be a quiet time, I wonder if the "gang" has any insights >>> on >>> how a "beerhouse keeper" would operate. This was my ggrandmother's >>> mother's >>> occupation in Portsea. She lived at 2 Green Rd. Artillery Arms. Would it >>> be >>> likely that this was also her "premises"? The Artillery Arms sounds like a >>> beerhouse to me. Would anyone know anything about this place? >>> >>> Thanks all. >>> >>> Lynne > >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------- >>>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>>> [email protected] with the word >>>> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the >>>> message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message