Project Event: Intoxicants and Politics Past and Present

Wellcome Library, London (CC BY 4.0) and Wikimedia Commons.

The CPA Room, Palace of Westminster
Monday 10 October 2016

One of our key research themes is intoxicants, politics, and governance. We’re especially interested in the role of early modern governors in determining which intoxicants were consumed where, by whom, at what cost; in the relationship between intoxicants and political debate, conflict, and mobilisation; and in the role of intoxicants in the development of the early modern state, especially through the project of alehouse licensing (see James’s recent blog post for more details). Another theme, closely connected to governance, is the importance of cultural practices that either underlie or undercut the actions of those who seek to control the production and consumption of intoxicants. We’re therefore delighted to share the details of this combined conference and musical reception, which will bring historical research on intoxicants, regulation, and policy by the project and other scholars to the heart of government.

Conference (15:00-18:15)

15:10-15:20 Introduction

• Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP & Phil Withington (Univeristy of Sheffield)

15:20-16:15 Panel 1: British Governance
Chaired by Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP

• James Brown (University of Sheffield): Licensing and Alcohol: The Long View
• David Beckingham (University of Cambridge): Women and Regulation
• Gerald Gouriet (QC, FTB Chambers): A Legal Perspective

16:15-17:10 Panel 2: Comparative Perspectives (Sponsored by Alcohol Research UK)
Chaired by Lord Bruce of Bennachie

• Karin Sennefelt (Stockholm University): Scandinavia
• Gemma Blok (University of Amsterdam): The Netherlands and Germany
• Rudi Matthee (University of Delaware): The Middle East

17:10-18:05 Panel 3: Cultures of Intoxication
Chaired by Chloe Challender, Senior Clerk at House of Commons

• Robin Eagles (History of Parliament): Parliamentary Intoxication
• Kate Davison (University of Oxford): Clubs, Pubs and Intoxicating Humour
• John Holmes (University of Sheffield): A Typology of British Drinking Culture 2009-2011: Implications for Alcohol Policy

The 1684 alehouse licence of Chester widow Katherine Booth. Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, ZQRL/13.

Musical Reception (19:00-21:30)

The post-conference reception features two short musical sets, courtesy of the AHRC Hit Songs of the Seventeenth Century Database project (for which I am also a Co-I). Together, they briefly (and interactively!) explore the close relationship between drink, song, and politics, past and present. Songs will be performed by members of The Carnival Band, led by Andy Watts, also a Co-I on the Hit Songs project.

19:00-19:30 Party Like It’s 1679! Drink, Song, and the Creation of Party Politics

• Introductory remarks by Angela McShane (V&A/University of Sheffield)
• Featuring Delights of the Bottle, The Wine Cooper’s Delight, The Loyal London Apprentice, and Old Simon the King

20:00-20:30 Drink, Song, and Politics: Modern to Contemporary

• Introductory remarks by Angela McShane (V&A/University of Sheffield)
• Featuring The Murder of Sir John Barleycorn, Lloyd George’s Beer, Glorious Ale, and Rounds and Catches

Wellcome Library, London (CC BY 4.0).

Convenors

• Angela McShane (V&A/University of Sheffield)
• David Harrison (Former House of Commons Clerk)
• Phil Withington (University of Sheffield)
• Andy Watts (The Carnival Band)

Sponsors

• Economic and Social Research Council
• Arts and Humanities Research Council
• Alcohol Research UK