Alcoholism among Victorians Essay -- Victorian Era

alcohol addiction among VictoriansWrayburn It will be necessary, I think, to wind up Mr. Dolls, before boththing to any mortal purpose can be got out of him. Brandy, Mr. Dolls, or - ?Mr. Dolls Threepennorth Rum.--Our vulgar Friend by Charles DickensThroughout Victorian society snare was the preferred spirit of the disappoint class, while wine and brandy were imbibed by the more comfortable citizenry (Alcoholic Beverages 12).During the nineteenth century, the Victorians had high expectations of their class system to muddle sure the classes were distinct and properly represented. They assessd controlled, propitious behavior and would behave nothing less (Harding Victorians and Alcohol). There was a cultural value fit(p) on teetotaling, total abstinence from alcoholic drinks, but despite this value alcohol consumption became a popular pastime (Harding Victorians and Alcohol). Behavior much(prenominal) as drunkenness was strongly disapproved of because of its association with the lower class.Alcoholism pattern of the Working ClassIt was widely known that drunkenness, and the related loss of self-control, was associated with the lower classes and therefore had negative connotations (Harding Victorians and Alcohol). Spirits, a popular hard liquor, had become the frequent drink for less wealthy people and laborers commonly used liquor to flee from their desolate everyday lives (Harding Victorians and Alcohol). The awful workings and living conditions of the working class contributed to their hard, controlled, and monotonous life, leading to riotous drinking of hard liquor (Harding Victorians and Alcohol). This excessive drinking would sometimes result in public intoxication which was regarded as anti-s... ...ss, Inc. 1996. 12.Distad, Merrill N. Food and Diet. Victorian Britain An Encyclopedia. New York Garland Publishing, Inc. 1988. 304-307.Garwood, John. Religious and moral voice of the Pensioners, and Provisions made for their Instruction. Social I nvestigation/Journalism The Million-Peopled City. (1853) 94-96. 11 Mar. 2005 Harding, Stephen. Alcohol. Victorians Secrets. common wormwood and Victorians. Victorians Secrets. 2000. University of Texas at Arlington. 24 Feb. 2005. Kent, Christopher A. Drink. Twentieth-Century Britain An Encyclopedia. New York Garland Publishing, Inc., 1995. 239-240.Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. Domesticating Drink Women, Men, and Alcohol in America, 1870-1940 . Baltimore, MD Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998.