Whilst Britain didn't have Prohibition, it did have a strong Temperance movement.
For example, the temporary restrictions on opening hours for bars introduced to reduce drunkenness at work amongst munitions workers during the First World War (closing in the afternoon, reopening in the evening and closing at 11 PM) lasted long after the war. The compulsory shutdown in the afternoon was not repealed until 1988. The 11 PM closure, (though the rules always were different for nightclubs and private members' clubs) did not end until the early 21st century
There was a strong link between temperance and votes for women here too-- the Pankhurst sisters (some of Britain's leading campaigners for votes for women) ran a 'dry' hotel and restaurant on the London- Essex borders. They, and their hotel, are still commemorated in a display on the wall of a local supermarket.
Ironically this reminder of the Pankhursts hangs a few feet away from pictures of the locale's most famous adopted son -- the notoriously hard-drinking Sir Winston Churchill. Twice Prime Minister, Sir Winston was the area's Member of Parliament for many decades, including during both of his spells as Prime Minister. But then the Houses of Parliament always were expemt from this particular law ...
Richard Hayes
- On Mon, 25/1/10, Jeff <richaje_at_vdp91erVOpp-6twiHyhAE9_fgFrzcZD1WUF6ItFFTDdZ4kIV4E-k2p7Ei_EtrPdD3KMi1d47bvQ.yahoo.invalid> wrote:
From: Jeff <richaje_at_vdp91erVOpp-6twiHyhAE9_fgFrzcZD1WUF6ItFFTDdZ4kIV4E-k2p7Ei_EtrPdD3KMi1d47bvQ.yahoo.invalid>
Subject: Re: The meaning of "hillbilly"
To: WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, 25 January, 2010, 17:32
> This whole "prohibition" stuff is extremely strange to a French. You'd think the
> american government would avoid mingling into peoples' private lives. Was it
> something religious ?
It is what happens when you give women the vote in a society where alcohol abuse and binge-drinking went hand in hand with domestic violence. The Temperance Movement (the anti-alcohol movement that led to Prohibition) was one of the driving forces of the Women's Sufferage Movement.
Jeff
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