King James I

The early 17th century saw the first moral panic in English history about the social impact of drunkenness, and Mark Whitaker begins his narrative history series on the politics of alcohol with King James I's campaign against it.

At a time of rapid social change, with increasing religious division and political tension, the ruling classes came to see the ale-houses used by the poor as deeply threatening. In the first three years of his reign James passed Acts against the spread of ale-houses and against "the loathsome sin of drunkenness".

But the state had no police force, so it depended on the pulpit to put the fear of God into the country's drinkers. "It is no one sin, but all sins" became the message; the drunkard was someone "wholly at Satan's command".

Drink was a central and celebrated part of daily life. Ale was regarded by the poor as vital to their diet and drinking it was portrayed as a patriotic duty, while the rituals of social and family life for the wealthy were washed down with French or Portuguese wine. Royal celebrations at the Palace of Whitehall were also notoriously drunken affairs.

Actors read extracts from sermons, memoirs and pamphlets.

Producer: Mark Whitaker
A Square Dog production for BBC Radio 4.