Colonists' Daily Beer Consumption: A Historical Perspective

Alcohol was a staple in the diets of American colonists, who drank roughly three times as much as modern Americans. In 1790, the average colonial American consumed about 34 gallons of beer and cider, five gallons of distilled spirits, and one gallon of wine per year. Drinking alcohol was a means of survival, as potable water was scarce in colonial times and could carry harmful diseases. Beer was considered a food and a sign of social status, and it was often consumed in the morning, even by children.

Beer was a staple drink for colonists, including children

Beer was considered a food and allowed colonists to put in a full day's work. It was also seen as a status symbol, as only the most destitute drank water. Beer was often a standard part of the workday for tradesmen, and craftsmen drank at work, as did hired hands in the fields, shoppers in stores, sailors at sea, and soldiers in camp. Beer was also a safer choice than water, which often carried harmful diseases. In addition, beer was an important part of civic life, as taverns were the center of social activity, where colonists could read newspapers, hold business meetings, or lodge for the night.

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 typically consumed from waxed leather tankards known as "black jacks." Later, beer was consumed from pewter tankards, and when tin could no longer be imported from England, Americans melted down and recast old pewter mugs.

The Founding Fathers, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and James Madison, were all lovers of beer. George Washington, an accomplished brewmaster, even fought the Continental Congress to restore beer rations for his troops during the Revolutionary War. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence while drinking beer at Philadelphia's Indian Queen Tavern.

Alcohol was believed to be safer than water

Secondly, cultural heritage played a role. The English heritage of the colonists declared that water was bad for a person's health. Beer consumption, in particular, was seen as a healthy substitute for water. Beer was considered a food and allowed people to put in a full day's work. Benjamin Franklin, for example, was known as the "water American" by his fellow printers in London, who drank beer throughout the day.

Thirdly, alcohol was believed to have health benefits. Americans of the period believed it was healthier to drink lukewarm alcohol during hot weather than cold water. They believed that when a person sweated, heat was conducted from the inside of the body, and so the stomach needed warmth, which could be provided by alcohol. Alcohol was also believed to aid digestion and increase strength.

Finally, social status was a factor. Only the most destitute drank water, and beer consumption showed social status.

For all these reasons, alcohol, and particularly beer, was seen as a safer and more desirable drink than water in colonial America.

Drinking was a social activity

The taverns also played a vital role in the political climate of colonial America. For political figures like the Founding Fathers, taverns were where they went to get the inside scoop on political adversaries and posit agendas. Ben Franklin, for example, used taverns as a tool of diplomacy. Eating, drinking, and gossiping were negotiation tactics for him. It was in taverns that the Founding Fathers, emboldened by liquid courage, honed the concepts contained in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Alcohol also lubricated social events such as christenings, weddings, funerals, trials, and election-day gatherings, where aspiring candidates tempted voters with free drinks. Craftsmen drank at work, as did hired hands in the fields, shoppers in stores, sailors at sea, and soldiers in camp.

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.

Alcohol was a key part of the American Revolution

The Founding Fathers themselves were avid drinkers and played a role in promoting the brewing industry. George Washington, for instance, operated a small brewery at Mount Vernon and fought the Continental Congress to restore beer rations for his troops during the Revolutionary War. Thomas Jefferson, a renowned oenophile, wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence in a tavern, and John Adams started his days with a draft of hard cider. Benjamin Franklin, despite advocating for temperance, was a lover of "the cups" and crafted the "Drinkers' Dictionary," a collection of colonial slang describing drunkenness.

Alcohol was also integral to social and political life in the colonies. Taverns served as hubs for social gatherings, business meetings, lodging, and even postal services. They were also spaces where political figures could gather intelligence on adversaries and develop their agendas. The taverns' role in fostering social connections and emboldening political discussions through "liquid courage" underscores the impact of alcohol on the Revolution.

The prevalence of alcohol extended beyond social and political circles. Craftsmen drank while working, and it was customary for sailors, soldiers, and shoppers to drink as well. Alcohol was also believed to have medicinal properties, curing or mitigating various ailments. The belief in its health benefits, combined with its accessibility and affordability, solidified alcohol as a staple in the daily lives of colonists.

The American Revolution witnessed a shift in drinking preferences, with colonists turning away from tea due to tensions with the British Empire. This led to the rise of whiskey, a homegrown alcohol made from corn or rye, which became a symbol of patriotism. The boycott of British goods and the emergence of whiskey as a popular alternative demonstrate how alcohol consumption was intertwined with the political climate and the forging of a new American identity.

In conclusion, alcohol was indeed a key part of the American Revolution. It shaped social interactions, influenced political discussions, and reflected the colonists' resourcefulness and evolving tastes. The Founding Fathers' involvement in the alcohol industry and their own drinking habits further highlight the significance of alcohol during this pivotal period in American history.

Drinking was a political act

Secondly, taverns, where alcohol was consumed, played a vital role in colonial life. They served as venues for legal proceedings, debates, town meetings, and other social events. Taverns were also where political figures went to gather information about their adversaries and develop their agendas. Benjamin Franklin, for example, used taverns as a tool of diplomacy, employing "eating, drinking, and gossiping" as negotiation tactics. The Founding Fathers, "emboldened by liquid courage", discussed the concepts contained in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in taverns, unfettered by the rarefied rules of governance.

Thirdly, drinking habits were also influenced by political ideologies. Colonists turned against tea when their relationship with the British Empire soured in the 1760s, and they boycotted imported goods as a form of protest against British interference with their trade. This non-importation movement helped create a shared American identity and cause, and it played a role in shaping the road to American independence.

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