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Absinthe is now perfectly legal in many countries around the world but why were Absinthe and Absithe kits banned at all?

What Made French Government ban Absinthe?

France is wrongly known as the home of Absinthe but Absinthe was actually created at the end of the 18th century by Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Switzerland. It became popular in both France and Switzerland in 19th and 20th century, 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.

Many great writers and artists claimed that Absinthe gave them inspiration. True and Ardent Devotees of Absinthe included famous personalities like Oscar Wilde 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 in France. 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 said to be damaging French society.

After the heinous murder of a whole family by a known Absinthe drinker, prohibitionists convinced the government that Absinthe was a danger. 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 commonly Considered similar to THC of cannabis.

Thujone toxicity is only when consumed in LARGE quantities. It was thought that pre ban Absinthe did contain large quantities, 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.

In the EU and in the United States Thujone content is controlled. EU law will only allow alcoholic beverages with an ABV (alcohol by volume) over 25% to contain up to 10mg per kg of thujone and for beverages labeled “bitters” to contain up to 35mg per kg.

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.

Hence, if Absinthe is that safe thne why medical professionals marked it as dangerous and why was Absinthe banned? reasons Behind:-

– Mass hysteria – Absinthe was linked to Narcotic drugs.
– Wine producers apprehensive about the the fall in popularity of wine.
– Unreliable testing and medical research.
Culture of Montmartre links to the Absinthe are ns and Bohemian.
– Prohibitionists looking to ban alcohol containing beverages taking help of excuses.

Why Government banned Absinthe? A combination of politics, lies, myths and misunderstandings was the reason.

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