With the transition from manual to industrial production of absinthe, in 1798 by the Pernod-fils distillery, it was introduced to a wider population. 8 But widespread smoking was greatly promoted after 1880, with the invention of a cigarette-rolling machine to replace the time consuming hand-rolling of cigarettes. Tobacco was introduced into France by 1556, in Portugal by 1558 and in Spain by 1559. snuff, cigars, cigarettes) was introduced into Europe as well. Gradually, using tobacco in all kinds of forms (e.g. 7 Accounts of the smoking of tobacco can be found in the manuscripts and journals of European explorers of the New World. 6 The oldest existing illustration of a smoker is a Mayan illustration of a smoking God. Widespread tobacco use in eastern North America, where the tobacco leaf is native to, dates back to at least 2000 years ago. ![]() He used it as treatment for illness, but this recipe later became the basis of the industrially produced absinthe, which commenced with the founding of the Pernod-fils distillery in 1798. 5 A recipe for an alcoholic drink based on dried leaves of wormwood (absinthe) was developed in 1789 by Dr Ordinaire. 5 In the middle-ages, wormwood was known and used primarily because of its assumed medicinal qualities. The oldest known reference to medical use of wormwood dates from about 1552 BC, in the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus. Absinthe and tobacco before industrializationīoth the main ingredient of absinthe (wormwood) and tobacco have been known to mankind for their qualities for centuries. ![]() However, this article is concerned primarily with the history of absinthe and parallels of this history with that of tobacco. Currently, most countries in the EU have lifted their ban on absinthe, although the amount of the ingredient that has been linked to its hallucinatory effects-thujone-that is allowed in absinthe production nowadays is under strict EU regulations. It shows how general norms and values changed within a time frame of several decades, from widespread acceptance and use of a specific substance, to political indignation leading up to a complete ban of the substance. It is this latter aspect of the public reaction against absinthe that is of interest to public health professionals. From the view of public health, absinthe drinking in this period should be seen in the broader context of alcohol use, and alcoholism, but public and political sentiments at the time singled out absinthe in particular in the polemic against the social problems related to alcoholism, while ignoring other beverages like wine, which was often more widely used than absinthe. Absinthe drinking in France was quite common in the 19th century, and the beginning of the 20th, until it was banned there in 1915. Yet, the history of absinthe presents an interesting story for those who are interested in public health as well. Absinthe currently, if anything else, is being associated with romance and mystique. 1–3 It is often associated with bohemian artistic life during 19th century in France, with the life of painters and poets, and nowadays quite some reference is made to it in popular culture again. ![]() In its traditional form, it is said to have some mild hallucinatory qualities, which cannot be found in any other liquor. Absinthe, tobacco, public health, social inequalities Absinthe-its history and parallels with smokingĪbsinthe is an emerald coloured liquor, with a distinctive bitter taste, and high concentrations of alcohol (∼70%).
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