| Absinthe Ephemera V - Prohibition and Afterwards |
| Because of its high alcoholic strength, and the constant campaigns of the prohibitionist movement, the production and sale of absinthe became increasingly heavily taxed and tightly regulated from the early 1900's. Specific laws concerning absinthe were posted in bars and bistrots. |
Notices advertising a ban on the retail sale of absinthe, with penalties for its continued
sale, were posted throughout France in August 1914. In March 1915 absinthe was
declared a toxic product, and its manufacture and sale were completely prohibited.
sale, were posted throughout France in August 1914. In March 1915 absinthe was
declared a toxic product, and its manufacture and sale were completely prohibited.
Letter of 16th November 1914
from Paul Doumer, senator in
the Military Government in
Paris, enclosing copies of the
proclamations banning
absinthe and similar liquors.
from Paul Doumer, senator in
the Military Government in
Paris, enclosing copies of the
proclamations banning
absinthe and similar liquors.
Prohibition notice for the Doubs region issued by Raymond
Poincaré on 16th March 1915.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Poincaré on 16th March 1915.
Click on the image to enlarge.
| An original sketched cartoon by Milo. Apparently unpublished. L'ABSINTHE C'est fait on va nous la supprimer. Alors à quoi ça a servi d'avoir pris la Bastille Click on the image to see an enlarged version. |
Ernest Tisserand's 1922 "Éloge de la très
précieuse liqueur d’Absinthe", an elegiac
memoir of the absinthe era that contains
one of the very few contemporary references
to the use of an absinthe fountain, and the
first reference to home-distilled absinthe in
the post-ban period.
précieuse liqueur d’Absinthe", an elegiac
memoir of the absinthe era that contains
one of the very few contemporary references
to the use of an absinthe fountain, and the
first reference to home-distilled absinthe in
the post-ban period.
A post-ban broadsheet by the Ligue National Contre
l'Alcoholisme attacking the absinthe substitutes or
"Camouflages" introduced in the 1920's and 30's,
including Boulanger's Cressonnee and Hemard's
Amourette.
Click on the image to see an enlarged version.
l'Alcoholisme attacking the absinthe substitutes or
"Camouflages" introduced in the 1920's and 30's,
including Boulanger's Cressonnee and Hemard's
Amourette.
Click on the image to see an enlarged version.
Click on the Adobe PDF icon to see the
French text and an English translation
of Tisserand's "Éloge".
French text and an English translation
of Tisserand's "Éloge".
Another 1922 edition of
Tisserand's absinthe
memoir, inscribed by the
author on the half-title.
Click to enlarge.
Tisserand's absinthe
memoir, inscribed by the
author on the half-title.
Click to enlarge.
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