In this article from the National Guardian in 1912, the author writes about his belief that animals are fond of alcoholic beverages, using the subheader was ‘Some Four-Legged Drunkards.’.
“Some people are apt to hold up the lower animals as virtuous examples of temperance and the total abstinence from intoxicating liquors; but they are apparently ignorant of the fact that the epithet “drunken beast” is by no means a figure of speech.
Very many animals are not only fond of alcoholic drinks, but so devoted to them as to go through dangers and severe trials, exercising all their cunning to obtain the desired treat.”
This article is (In my opinion) taking aim at the Temperance activists that were trying to get rid of the alcohol in the country. The article continues to give us some examples of that animals are fond of what beverage… Although I’m not quite sure that this person would have the experience with these animals to state this ‘fact’… but he does anyway!
“The monkeys of Darfur, in Africa, are exceedingly fond of beer, and seize every opportunity of obtaining it. They become intoxicated with it in precisely the same way as men do.”
“Rats acquire a love of strong drink from accidentally broaching casks of beer, wine, or spirits”
“Many monkeys and parrots are fond of rum, while the elephant prefers the still more fiery native liquid, Barack. The liking of horses and donkeys for beer is probably due to the fact that it is, from its comparative cheapness, the drink most frequently put in their way.”
The author then goes on to give more details examples from ‘people he knew’…
“A French Poodle of my acquaintance used to take “a glass of rum and water with a slice of lemon in it” every night before going to bed”
“A pet Malay sun-bear belonging to Sir Stamford Raffles would drink no wine but champagne, and his master says of him: “The only time I ever knew him to be out of humour was on one occasion when no champagne was forthcoming.””
“Romanes, who experimented with alcohol on the medusa, says; “A tipsy jelly-fish rolled about in the water just like the staggering of a drunken man, and this was followed by torpidity, or a state of complete drunkenness, from which nothing could arouse it.”
Now, to me, these stories are mostly the animals being used by their owners to amuse themselves and don’t represent animals enjoying alcohol, but I suppose the water was still not 100% clean back in those times so the beer to the horses makes sense. What are your thoughts?
To read other stories from the past, check out our other articles here
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