Why was absinthe banned?

This is a question that I get asked all the time. My stock answer is that nobody knows for sure and that the answer varies from country to country.

Here are some theories on why absinthe was banned in France:

1. Before absinthe peaked in popularity, daily production levels were about 90 gallons a day. When it peaked, it shot up to 5,000 gallons a day. Distilleries had trouble meeting demand as some unsavory distillers cut corners and used low-grade alcohol that created health concerns.

2. Good absinthe requires high quality herbs. Proper louching requires good fennel and anise. When absinthe's popularity peaked, some unsavory distillers cut corners and used unsafe chemicals in place of herbs to create a louche-like effect. These chemicals were found not to be safe and create health concerns.

3. The French wine industry didn't like competing with absinthe as the drink of choice in cafés and bistros. The wine industry lobbied the government to ban absinthe citing health concerns and wild, unfounded allegations.

4. With the onset of WWI, the French government thought it best to separate absinthe and French troops. Absinthe was wildly popular with French army veterans and the French government feared that its high alcohol content would impact troop combat readiness.

Again, these are all just theories. I'm no historian by any stretch of the imagination. It could be that one of these theories is the reason why absinthe was banned or it could be a combination thereof.

It should be noted that quality pre-ban absinthe has recently been tested and proved that absinthe was safe and free of any ingredients that may cause a health concern (besides alcohol). And absinthe NEVER included any substance that would make you see things or high.

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