Why Was Absinthe Banned?
Absinthe is now perfectly legal in many countries around the world but why was Absinthe banned at all?
Why was Absinthe banned in France?
France is wrongly known as the home of Absinthe but Absinthe was actually created by Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Switzerland at the end of the 18th century. It became popular in both France and Switzerland in the 19th century and early 20th century, a time known as La Belle Epoque a golden age before the start of the First World War. It is a herbal alcoholic beverage flavored with wormwood, aniseed, fennel and sometimes other herbs such as lemon balm, hyssop and mint.
Absinthe has been linked with many great writers and artists who claimed that it gave them inspiration. Devotees of Absinthe included Oscar Wilde, Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.
Absinthe or the Green Fairy (La fee verte) became even more popular than fermented types of beverages such as beer and cider and upset wine producers by replacing wine as the most popular alcoholic drink in France. Absinthe’s popularity became blamed for France’s growing alcoholism problem and doctors and prohibitionists claimed that Absinthe was as bad as cannabis, that it was psychoactive and caused convulsions, hallucinations, insanity, brain damage and death. It was also blamed for loose morals and for damaging French society.
After the murder of a whole family by a known Absinthe drinker, prohibitionists were able to convince the government that Absinthe was a danger and that it would drive the nation to insanity and violence. Absinthe was banned in France in 1915 and in many other countries in the early 1900s.
Absinthe substitutes and Absinthe styles of drinks such as Pernod Pastis and Ricards were developed to market to those missing the taste of Absinthe.
Thujone
Thujone is a monoterpene found in wormwood, a key ingredient in Absinthe, and it was this chemical that was blamed for the dangerous effects of Absinthe. It was thought to be similar to THC, the chemical found in cannabis.
Thujone, in large quantities, is toxic and does affect the GABA receptors of the brain but only when consumed in LARGE quantities. It was thought that pre ban Absinthe did contain large quantities, up to 350mg of thujone per liter, but this has now been proved false. Tests on vintage bottles of Absinthe have shown that it actually only contained up to 6mg – a very small amount and not enough to give any psychedelic or harmful effects.
Such tests and other research, articles and studies have shown that Absinthe is just as safe as any other drink with a high alcohol content.
Thujone content is controlled in the EU and in the United States. EU law will only allow alcoholic beverages with an ABV (alcohol by volume) over 25% to contain up to 10mg per kg of thujone and for beverages labeled “bitters” to contain up to 35mg per kg.
US law will allow up to 10 parts per million of thujone in beverages, these beverages are considered to be “thujone free” as thujone content under this limit does not show on US testing equipment.
So, if Absinthe is perfectly safe why did doctors say it was dangerous and why was Absinthe banned? The reasons:-
- Mass hysteria – Absinthe was linked to drugs that were developed at the time – cocaine and heroin.
- Wine producers worrying about the fall in popularity of wine.
- Inaccurate testing and medical research.
- Absinthe’s link to the courtesans and Bohemian culture of Montmartre.
- Prohibitionists looking for any excuse to ban alcoholic beverages.
Why was Absinthe banned? Because of a combination of politics, lies, myths and misunderstandings.
