Beer-Guzzling Colonists: A Historical Drinking Problem

Drinking in Colonial America was a far cry from what it is today. In the 18th century, most people believed that water was bad for their health, and they weren't wrong—drinking water directly from the river could make a person sick. So, instead of drinking water, colonists drank fermented and brewed beverages like beer, ale, cider, and wine. Beer was so important to the colonists that they would often set up a brewhouse as one of their first structures when settling in a new place. In fact, the Pilgrims may have landed at Plymouth Rock due to a shortage of beer!

Everyone drank beer—men, women, and even children. It was consumed at all times of the day, including before breakfast. On average, an adult drank a gallon of ale a day. Beer was also used as a form of currency before the colonies had a real monetary system. The Continental Army promised each soldier a quart of beer per day.

Beer was considered safer than water

Drinking water was considered harmful to health in the eighteenth century. In London Town, for example, drinking water from the South River could make people sick and vomit. The river water was brackish, a mixture of salt and freshwater. Even the water from wells was contaminated because the wells were often dug close to privies. The contents of the privies would then contaminate the well water.

The Pilgrims, who arrived at Plymouth Rock, shared their beer recipe with the colonists. The fact that they chose to make landfall at Plymouth Rock was also because their beer supply was dwindling. They had initially planned to choose a settlement with a rich farm and a temperate climate. However, they ended up in New England and faced brutal winters and rocky soil.

Beer was a major dietary staple in the colonies. Everyone, from infants to farmers, laborers, merchants, lawyers, and craftsmen, drank beer. It was consumed throughout the day, even before breakfast. It was both nourishment and refreshment during long workdays. Beer was also consumed at social events, including business meetings, court hearings, and auctions.

The first brewery in Colonial America was opened in Manhattan by the Dutch West India Company in 1632. Soon after, in 1637, the Massachusetts Bay Colony legislature set the price of beer at "not more than one penny a quart at the most."

Beer was drunk by all ages

Drinking beer was a common practice for colonists of all ages. Beer was considered a healthier alternative to water, which often carried diseases. In fact, even children drank "small beer", which was produced by brewing beer multiple times, reducing the alcohol content with each brew. Beer was also used as a form of currency before the colonies had a real monetary system.

The English heritage of the colonists influenced their drinking habits. Drinking water was considered bad for one's health, and beer was seen as a healthy substitute. The Pilgrims, for example, chose to make landfall at Plymouth Rock due to a shortage of beer. They had initially planned to choose a settlement with rich farmland and a temperate climate, but their beer supply forced them to change course.

Beer was also an important part of daily life in the colonies, regardless of geographic or economic differences. It was consumed at all meals, and drinking often began even before breakfast. It was believed to be particularly healthy to drink lukewarm alcohol during hot weather instead of cold water. Beer was considered a food and a sign of social status—only the most destitute drank water.

The first brewery in Colonial America was opened in Manhattan by the Dutch West India Company in 1632. Soon after, the Massachusetts Bay Colony legislature set the price of beer at "not more than one penny a quart at the most." Beer was typically consumed from waxed leather tankards known as "black jacks" or pewter tankards.

The practice of drinking beer was so prevalent that it played a role in the formation of the government. Taverns, where beer was served, became centres of civic life, with religious services and court sessions often being held in them. They were also places where political figures could gather information about their adversaries and discuss their agendas.

Overall, beer was an integral part of colonial life, consumed by all ages and playing a significant role in social, economic, and political activities.

Beer was used as currency

Beer was a staple in the diets of the colonists. It was consumed by everyone, from infants to nursing mothers, farmers, lawyers, and even the Founding Fathers. The average American drank eight ounces of alcohol a day, and beer was a common choice. In fact, beer was so important to the colonists that they would rather go without food than without beer.

The colonists had good reason to prefer beer over water. Drinking water was often contaminated and carried harmful diseases, so alcohol was seen as a safer alternative. Beer was considered a food and a sign of social status—only the destitute drank water. Beer was also believed to be a healthier option during hot weather, as it provided warmth to the stomach, which was thought to be necessary when a person was sweating.

The importance of beer in colonial life extended beyond its consumption. Brewing beer was one of the first priorities for new settlements, and it was not uncommon for brewing to take place in the home. The lack of a monetary system in the colonies meant that beer was sometimes used as a form of currency in a barter system. Farmers could trade produce for ale, and in some areas of the southern colonies, there was a set rate of exchange where tobacco was traded for barrels of ale.

The establishment of taverns also played a significant role in colonial life and economic development. Taverns served as centres of commerce, social gathering places, and even courtrooms. They facilitated trade and encouraged travel to undeveloped areas. Beer was often served in taverns, further contributing to its role as a form of currency.

The prevalence of beer in colonial America had a lasting impact on the country's history and culture. It influenced social customs, stimulated the economy, and even played a role in the formation of the government. The colonists' love of beer helped shape the early days of the United States and contributed to the development of a thriving brewing industry that continues to this day.

Beer was a social lubricant

Beer was also used as a form of currency before the Colonies had any real monetary system. The Continental Army ration promised, but rarely delivered, a quart of ale per day. Beer was also used as a means of common defence. Citizens were more likely to volunteer for the militia if free beer was provided. Beer was also used to encourage gatherings where political dissent and disobedience to the crown were born.

The first businesses established on the frontier were often simple taverns located along trails and roads to take care of the needs of travellers. Tradition dictated that a drink be had at every halt in a journey. Beer was also consumed at social events, including business meetings, court hearings, and auctions. At funerals, it was expected that alcohol would be served, typically in a large pot placed directly on the coffin!

The social importance of beer is also reflected in the fact that the first brewery of Colonial America was opened in Manhattan by the Dutch West India Company in 1632. Almost as soon as the colonies of New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont had been established, their governors immediately established breweries to meet the demand of their subjects.

Beer was a breakfast drink

Beer was considered a food and a sign of social status. Drinking water was associated with being destitute. Beer was also believed to be nourishing and refreshing during long workdays.

Colonists drank beer with every meal, including breakfast. Drinking often began even before breakfast and continued throughout the day. Benjamin Franklin, the quintessential colonist, described his earliest job in a print shop with frequent references to ale. As a young apprentice, tending to the needs of the journeymen was one of his foremost duties. He also had the right to take a portion of his wages in ale. Franklin's diary repeatedly mentions that his work was interrupted as he was sent to fetch rations of ale.

The average American drank eight ounces of alcohol a day. Drinking alcohol was a means of survival in colonial times.

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