IS IT WINE O'CLOCK YET
Modern moms (and dads) joke about making it to wine o’clock for their “medicine” at the end of a long day. And plenty of doctors encourage, or at least don’t DIS-courage their patients from enjoying a nice glass of red most days because of the heart health benefits.
In 2023, we have many better things to do than judge someone for low-level drinking.
A century or so ago, it was much different. When Ella Shane pours herself a “medicinal sherry” at the end of a trying day, it could be a statement of fact…or it could be something else entirely. In 1899, alcohol still had many verified medical applications, from disinfectant to the base for any number of tinctures and tonics. Some of those tonics were still on sale, quite legitimately, well into the 20th century. My grandmother always told the tale of sniffing her aunt’s bottle of “Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Tonic” and nearly falling over at the reek of alcohol.
Drinking for relaxation or – gasp – pleasure, though, was a whole different ballgame, and not one that a nice lady, especially one like our exceedingly respectable Ella would admit to playing. By the late 1800s, the temperance movement was beginning to gain steam, and there were any number of (mostly female) people inveighing against the evils of Demon Rum. Interestingly, these folks seemed to be much more upset by the drinking habits of say, the Irish immigrant community than by those of WASP men at their political meetings. And of course Ella, being half Irish, is very sensitive to those cultural perceptions.
So while she might well enjoy a small portion of appropriate wines with dinner on the rare occasions she attends society parties, Ella would certainly never admit that she actually enjoys a small (or, depending on the degree of difficulty of the day – not so small!) glass of sherry of an evening. Instead, she phrases it as a medicinal item, necessary for health and well-being.
Other ladies often adopt the same formulation, whether it’s describing an after dinner cordial as a digestive (a word still in use in some languages), or simply explaining that they need a drop of brandy to encourage sleep. It’s all careful and polite cover, because a lady would never admit that she actually takes pleasure in a drink. If she admitted taking pleasure in alcohol, who knows what else she might take pleasure in?
Ella is certainly aware that people would be thinking exactly that of her.
Despite all of the negative stereotypes and prejudices driving the conversation, though, there IS something to be said for the idea of that medicinal glass. That, after all, one has no need to feel guilty or ashamed of enjoying (in moderation) a good drink at the end of the day, but that it is, in fact, a positive for one’s health.
One more reason to toast to wine o’clock!
Got a #ThrowbackThursday idea? Drop it in the comments!
In 2023, we have many better things to do than judge someone for low-level drinking.
A century or so ago, it was much different. When Ella Shane pours herself a “medicinal sherry” at the end of a trying day, it could be a statement of fact…or it could be something else entirely. In 1899, alcohol still had many verified medical applications, from disinfectant to the base for any number of tinctures and tonics. Some of those tonics were still on sale, quite legitimately, well into the 20th century. My grandmother always told the tale of sniffing her aunt’s bottle of “Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Tonic” and nearly falling over at the reek of alcohol.
Drinking for relaxation or – gasp – pleasure, though, was a whole different ballgame, and not one that a nice lady, especially one like our exceedingly respectable Ella would admit to playing. By the late 1800s, the temperance movement was beginning to gain steam, and there were any number of (mostly female) people inveighing against the evils of Demon Rum. Interestingly, these folks seemed to be much more upset by the drinking habits of say, the Irish immigrant community than by those of WASP men at their political meetings. And of course Ella, being half Irish, is very sensitive to those cultural perceptions.
So while she might well enjoy a small portion of appropriate wines with dinner on the rare occasions she attends society parties, Ella would certainly never admit that she actually enjoys a small (or, depending on the degree of difficulty of the day – not so small!) glass of sherry of an evening. Instead, she phrases it as a medicinal item, necessary for health and well-being.
Other ladies often adopt the same formulation, whether it’s describing an after dinner cordial as a digestive (a word still in use in some languages), or simply explaining that they need a drop of brandy to encourage sleep. It’s all careful and polite cover, because a lady would never admit that she actually takes pleasure in a drink. If she admitted taking pleasure in alcohol, who knows what else she might take pleasure in?
Ella is certainly aware that people would be thinking exactly that of her.
Despite all of the negative stereotypes and prejudices driving the conversation, though, there IS something to be said for the idea of that medicinal glass. That, after all, one has no need to feel guilty or ashamed of enjoying (in moderation) a good drink at the end of the day, but that it is, in fact, a positive for one’s health.
One more reason to toast to wine o’clock!
Got a #ThrowbackThursday idea? Drop it in the comments!
date
newest »
newest »
Your blog article made me laugh out loud. My 94 year old mom still insists she only enjoys red wine as a prescribed sleep aid. I love her for that. But, I'm glad you point out the different attitudes about drinking between cultures and genders. Ah, me. I do love "drinking history."
My wife and I often watch others quaffing a glass of their favourite variety of fermented grape and think how delicious they make it look. Or we accept a glass when offered in the hopes that this time we'll enjoy it and we do, surprisingly. I say "surprisingly" because after acquiring our very own bottle of the afore mentioned nectar of the grape we settle down to enjoy a glass then turn to each other and say, "Nope. Not enjoying this. "
We are destined to enjoy our wine vicariously.
So, quaff on my friends.