Absinthe is now perfectly legal in many countries around the world but why were Absinthe and Absithe kits banned at all?
Why France Banned Absinthe?
France is not the home of Absinthe but Absinthe was actually created by Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Switzerland at the end of the 18th century. In the 19th century and early 20th century Absinthe became very popular, 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.
Absinthe has been linked with many great writers and artists who claimed that it gave them inspiration. Devotees of Absinthe included Oscar Wilde, Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso.
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 became 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 murder of a whole family by a known Absinthe drinker, prohibitionists were able to convince the government that Absinthe was a danger and that it would drive the nation to insanity and violence. Many Countries banned Absinthe in 1915 including France.
Absinthe substitutes and Absinthe styles of drinks such as Pernod Pastis and Ricards were developed to market to those missing the taste of Absinthe.
Thujone
Thujone is a monoterpene a key ingredient in Absinthe, and it was this chemical that was blamed for the dangerous effects of Absinthe. It was thought to be similar to THC, the chemical found in cannabis.
Thujone toxicity is only when consumed in LARGE quantities. It was a mis conception that pre ban Absinthe had up to 350mg of thujone per liter, but this has now been proved false. Tests in the past proved that Absinthe only contained up to 6mg – a very small amount and not enough to give any psychedelic 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.
Thujone content is regulatede in the EU and U.S. EU law will only allow beverages labeled “bitters” to contain up to 35mg per kg and alcoholic beverages with an ABV (alcohol by volume) over 25% to contain up to 10mg per kg of thujone.
US government permits10 parts per million of thujone in beverages, these beverages are considered to be “thujone free” as thujone content under this limit does not show on US testing equipment.
After all, if Absinthe is safe it was labelled as dangerous and why was Absinthe banned? The Exact Reasons :-
– Mass hysteria – Absinthe was thought to be like – cocaine and heroin.
– Wine producers apprehensive about their future in the market place.
– Inaccurate testing and medical research.
Bohemian and courtesans culture of Montmartre are linked to Absinthe’s.
– Prohibitionists silly excuses to ban alcoholic beverages.
Why Many Countries Banned Absinthe? A combination of politics, lies, myths and misunderstandings was Behind it.
