Bird's Eye View: A Woman's place is.....down the pub?

So there I was.  All on my own.  Sitting in the corner of my local.  No, I wasn’t Billy-no-mates (not on this occasion); I was waiting for The Chap to arrive.  So I played with my phone whilst supping a pint; texting mates, catching up with Facebook, bidding for some shoes on ebay (sad I know), anything to avoid catching someone’s eye.  Actually that’s not quite true.  This is one pub where I’d be happy to sit on my own.  Perhaps with a book.  Or the Sunday papers.  In fact Norwich has lots of really lovely, friendly pubs.  Granted, there are still a few that are unwelcoming, and some that are downright intimidating for women.  But on the whole we are blessed in this city.  It got me thinking about women…..and pubs.   

Although pubs have traditionally been the preserve of men, it was women who did most of the brewing back in the day, usually for their immediate families. The First World War transformed female drinking habits.  Whilst the men were away fighting, women took on the work they had left behind.   Women suddenly found themselves with disposable income, and by all accounts many dashed to the pub and started drinking; and drinking alcohol in greater quantities than ever before!  This prompted moral outrage in some quarters, with calls on the government to take action to keep women out of pubs.                                                        

The Aberdeen Journal in 1914 discussed the “evil” of an “increase in the consumption of alcoholic liquor by women”, authorities in Warrington were concerned about “the army of women crowding the public houses”, and clerics in Dundee called for an outright ban on women in pubs.  The Manchester Evening News even reported that a magistrate, Theophilus Simpson, had conducted an inquiry into the local ‘underworld’ and that during his research, he had been shocked to count “26 women enter a licensed house in ten minutes, with 16 coming out who he had not seen enter”!  He concluded his report saying that soldiers would return at the end of the war to “find their wives dishonoured and drunkards”. 

Thankfully there were no laws or measures introduced that specifically targeted women, despite the fact that there did seem to be a genuine fear that changes in society would lead to a decline in women’s standards; fears not only of drinking, but also smoking and wearing trousers.

Well I don’t smoke, but I do drink and wear trousers, often at the same time.  So I’m raising a glass to those early ladettes.  Cheers girls!

The Beer Bird

(This article first appeared in Norfolk Nips June 2016)