A few weeks back, Dru Jaeger caught up with Dr Annemarie McAllister, a cultural historian and leading researcher into the history and effects of the temperance movement. Annemarie is a senior research fellow in History at the University of Central Lancaster, and a nationally renowned expert on the history of temperance.
Dru's conversation with Annemarie has been particularly interesting to us at Club Soda. Having had a lot of press coverage for our alcohol-free off-licence, where people have been intrigued by the idea of a shop selling only low and no alcohol products, it's interesting to remember that there was a time when there were thousands of temperance movement bars across the UK.
The fascinating chat between a researcher of a historic temperance movement and the instigator of a modern mindful drinking movement teaches us that the idea of moderation and abstinence, and the problems and challenges around both, are not new. But the same question arises now as did then - how can we build even more momentum towards lasting social change?
The Club Soda podcast is packed full of fascinating conversations like this one, so feel free to check out the rest of Season 3. It is available wherever you subscribe to podcasts. Find your platform here.