Absinthe is now perfectly legal in many countries around the world but why were Absinthe and Absithe kits banned at all?
After all Why Did Government Ban Absinthe ?
France is wrongly known as the home of Absinthe but Absinthe was actually created at the end of the 18th century by Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Switzerland. It became popular in both France and Switzerland in 19th and 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.
Many great writers and artists claimed that Absinthe gave them inspiration. Personalities those who appreciated Absinthe included bigwigs like Oscar Wilde and Van Gogh.
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. Absinthe’s popularity lead to 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 to be a major cause for promoting loose morals and for damaging French society.
After the heinous murder of a whole family by a known Absinthe drinker, prohibitionists convinced the government that Absinthe was a danger. Absinthe received a banned in France in 1915 and in many other countries in the early 1900s.
Absinthe substitutes and Absinthe styles of alcoholic 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 commonly Considered similar to THC of cannabis by many people.
Thujone 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 showed up to 6mg of thuejone – 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.
In the EU and in the United States Thujone content is controlled. Alcoholic beverages containing an ABV over 25% to contain up to 10mg per kg of thujone and for beverages labeled “bitters” to contain up to 35mg per kg only will be prescribed by EU law.
US law will allow up to 10 parts per million of thujone in beverages, these beverages are considered to be “thujone free”.
So, if Absinthe is perfectly safe why did doctors say it was dangerous and why was Absinthe banned? The Exact Reasons :-
- Mass hysteria – Absinthe was marked as dangerous as – cocaine and heroin.
- Wine producers apprehensive about their future in the market place.
- Unreliable medical research.
Absinthe is said to linked with courtesans and Bohemian Culture of Montmartre.
- Prohibitionists looking to ban alcohol containing beverages taking help of excuses.
After all Why Did Government ban Absinthe? Due to a combination of vested interests, myths, lies, and misunderstandings.