Down With Drink!

The traditional pub, with it's long bar, mirrors, bright lights and warm atmosphere is a Victorian invention. When tiny cold homes were overcrowded with big families many men would find escape in drink and cosy surroundings. Sadly many working men would spend too much of their tiny wages there. Children starved, wives were beaten and alcohol abuse was a serious social problem.

The response of the Christian Church was the temperance movement. Young and old were encouraged to attend 'band of hope' meetings where they sang songs and heard talks about the evils of alcoholism. People signed "the pledge" - a solemn promise never to drink alcohol.

Teahouses became popular places where people could buy refreshments that did not include alcohol. It all sounds very quaint to us now, yet alcohol abuse kills far more people in the UK today than illegal drugs.