Abstinence Movement (Sweden)
The abstinence movement is one of the three great Swedish popular movements of the 19th century .
requirements
By the 1800s, alcoholism was a major problem. Schnapps was the predominant alcoholic drink, while beer was of minor importance and wine was actually only drunk by the upper class. Estimates speak of an average consumption of 40 liters of schnapps per person per year in the 1820s, which is about five times the current consumption.
Alcohol consumption created serious social problems. Not only social and ethical aspects determined the emergence and activity of the abstinence movement, but also political ones, since the excessive consumption of alcohol in the lower social classes had a destructive and passivating effect.
The abstinence movement started out from puritanical religious movements, but also found active support from scientists, doctors and politicians.
precursor
The first abstinence clubs were established in the 1830s based on the American model. Svenska nykterhetssällskapet was formed in 1837, and its members undertook not to drink schnapps or other spirits. Moderate consumption of beer and wine was allowed, but these drinks were actually only widespread among the upper class. The movement's primary goal was to abolish home distilling, and when they achieved their goals in Acts of 1855 and 1860 respectively, the movement died.
Abstinence movements
While the older, moderate abstinence movement was mainly supported by people from the upper class, a new, more radical popular movement arose in the 1870s, which included large parts of the population. She was close to both the free church revival movement and the Swedish labor movement .
In 1879 the first lodge of the Good Templar Order ( IOGT ) from America was formed in Gothenburg . In the following years, other organizations like the ones followed England coming Blåbandsrörelse which Templarorden (TO), the women's organization Vita Bandet u. a. Since these organizations were initially religious, a non-denominational organization ( Verdandi ) was established in 1896 and was close to the Social Democrats.
These organizations demanded complete abstinence from alcohol and worked towards a total ban. At their peak around 1910, the various organizations had around half a million members. In addition, however, the free church revival movements and the workers' movement must be added, which supported the demands of the abstinence movement. In a signature campaign in 1909, 56% of the adult population supported a total ban.
The activity of the abstinence movement was not limited to alcohol policy . The organizations ran popular educational institutions, were extremely active in political issues such as the issue of voting rights and tried, in cooperation with other organizations, to offer an alcohol-free community and leisure experience.
The representation of the abstinence movement in politics was extraordinarily strong in the first half of the 20th century (especially within the liberal and social democratic parties). In 1918, 64% of all members of the second, elected chamber of parliament belonged to an abstinence organization, and even today the various organizations have more than 250,000 members.