Uncover the tricks behind the liquor trade and the real ingredients of everyday drinks.
This historical exposé examines how alcohol has traveled through markets and medicine, and why many people were urged to rethink what they drink. The book compiles Johnson’s investigations into adulteration, the rise of so-called medicine wines, and the methods used by sellers to tailor beverages to every customer. It also weaves in testimonies and letters that reveal the order, influence, and intent behind the temperance reform movement.
- Learn how ancient stories and myths are used to frame the drink question
- See how doctors and manufacturers were connected to the spread of intoxicants
- Discover the “magic box” that allegedly helped sample and counterfeit drinks
- Read contemporary arguments for reform and the call for safer, drug-free alternatives
Ideal for readers of temperance history, social reform, and 19th-century public health debates.