Beer Street and Gin Lane

Issued in 1876 by English artist William Hogharth “Beer Street” and “Gin Lane” were two drawings used to accompany the states campaign against Gin. Back in the days England faced a huge alcohol problem. The authorities connected the high level of crime to the consumption of certain beverages, especialy to Gin. Hogarthe produced two drawings that were published in London’s Evening Post.

“Beer Street” represents the positive side of British community living in health and happiness. To that effect it actually can be seen as a campaign for the British beer production. People on this drawing seem happy and balanced. The people living on “Gin Lane” on the other hand side are desperate, crazy, and especially drunk. Never officially stated historians see much more in these two works by Hogarth. The prosper community living on “Beer Street” seem to be the cause for the poverty and criminality on Gin Lane. It is a classical indifferene between two classes in a social system of inbalance that is illustrated here and proofs to be right until today. A social system, for sure in Western countries is defined by a certain inbalance that in todays time increases. Rich peope become richer and poor poorer… The only difference to Hogarth’s time is the consumption of drinks that are served in bars and offered in stores. Gin is now the exclusive drink, the expensive one, while beer, cheap and always available, is the drink for the other class, the bourgeoisie. At one point Gin will be replaced by water, I guess but beer will stay the same.

Issued in 1876 by English artist William Hogharth “Beer Street” and “Gin Lane” were two drawings used to accompany the states campaign against Gin. Back in the days England faced a huge alcohol problem. The authorities connected the high level of crime to the consumption of certain beverages, especialy to Gin. Hogarthe produced two drawings that were published in London’s Evening Post.

“Beer Street” represents the positive side of British community living in health and happiness. To that effect it actually can be seen as a campaign for the British beer production. People on this drawing seem happy and balanced. The people living on “Gin Lane” on the other hand side are desperate, crazy, and especially drunk. Never officially stated historians see much more in these two works by Hogarth. The prosper community living on “Beer Street” seem to be the cause for the poverty and criminality on Gin Lane. It is a classical indifferene between two classes in a social system of inbalance that is illustrated here and proofs to be right until today. A social system, for sure in Western countries is defined by a certain inbalance that in todays time increases. Rich peope become richer and poor poorer… The only difference to Hogarth’s time is the consumption of drinks that are served in bars and offered in stores. Gin is now the exclusive drink, the expensive one, while beer, cheap and always available, is the drink for the other class, the bourgeoisie. At one point Gin will be replaced by water, I guess but beer will stay the same.