Wine history lesson 8: The evils of drinking

History tends to repeat itself, and especially when it comes to booze

Consider these two quotes:

• “The fight against evil is always an uphill one, and the hill is never steeper than when you fight the liquor interests.”

• “Alcohol consumption and its associated harms are reaching a crisis point in the United States.”

The first? William Jennings Bryant in 1910, advocating for state-wide prohibition in Nebraska. The second? A 2022 study, advocating for more explicit anti-drinking warnings on wine, beer, and spirits.

Not much difference in the two statements — despite the century-plus difference in when they were made, as well as the philosophies behind the people who made them. Bryan, an ardent Prohibitionist, believed drinking was a moral weakness, while the study’s authors are respected researchers who are focused on science.

In this, I’ve always been surprised at how much the original and the current group of anti-drinking crusaders have in common. It’s the same message, but couched in just enough of a different style. That way, we won’t be quite as offended when they tell us that drinking is evil. Which, to give the Neo-Prohibitionsts their due, is damned clever. It’s still offensive, but at least they understand the morality bit is probably too dated to work any more.

More wine history lessons:
• Wine history lesson 7: When drinking alcohol was a good thing
• Wine history lesson 6: Was this California fortified wine one of the state’s first post-Prohibition efforts?
• Wine history lesson 5: Big Wine’s forebear — the infamous California Wine Association