Drunkenness

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There is currently much talk of binge drinking and drunkenness.  It has been a problem in earlier times.  The Drunkenness Act of 1606 begins

“ Whereas the loathsome and odious sin of drunkenness is of late grown into common use within this realm, being the root and foundation of many enormous sins, as bloodshed, stabbing, murder, swearing, fornication, adultery and such like, to the great dishonour of God, and of our nation, the overthrow of many good arts and manual trades, the disabling of divers workmen and the general impoverishment of many good subjects, abusively wasting the good creatures of God”

Under the Act, drunks were fined five shillings (25p) or spend six hours in the stocks.

From ‘The Strange Laws of Old England’ by Nigel Cawthorne, published by Piatkus Books in 2004 at £9.99.