Drink Maps in Victorian Britain

A 'drink map' was a late nineteenth-century British map designed to shock and shame people into drinking less, featuring red symbols to indicate where alcohol was sold. It was published in various cities to fight rampant alcohol consumption, but eventually led to the closure of half the licensed shops due to its effectiveness.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 09 May 2024
Publisher: Bodleian Library

A 'drink map' is a type of late nineteenth-century British map designed to shock and shame people into drinking less. These maps were published in various cities, including Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Oxford, London, and Norwich, and featured red symbols to indicate where alcohol was sold. They were posted prominently in public places, submitted as evidence, sent to Members of Parliament, and published in newspapers to show the extent of alcohol consumption in a particular area. The maps promoted the idea that having fewer places to buy alcohol was the answer to reducing widespread crime, poverty, and sickness. They were successful in some cases, with judges closing half of the licensed shops in one town after consulting a drink map. The story of drink maps is told amidst a tangle of licensing laws, rogue magistrates, irate brewers, ardent temperance organizers, and accounts of the complex role alcohol played across all levels of Victorian society. Illustrated with original maps, advertisements, and temperance propaganda, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the history and impact of drink maps.

Weight: 810g
Dimension: 235 x 184 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781851245789