The archive / Stimulants and intoxicants
1756–1823 · Sweden
Coffee is ruining the nation’s health – and its economy!
Coffee
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The verdict
Sweden banned coffee five times in 70 years. Today Swedes drink more coffee than almost anyone.
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What was said?
Coffee arrived in Sweden in the 17th century and spread rapidly during the 18th. The authorities viewed it with concern: the drink was considered unhealthy and wasteful, and because the beans had to be imported, they caused money to drain out of the country.
The Riksdag first banned coffee in 1756. The ban was lifted and reinstated several times – on and off until 1823. Anyone caught could be fined, and coffee cups were confiscated.
The verdict: what happened next?
The bans worked poorly. People carried on drinking coffee on the sly, and the bans were scrapped for good in the 1820s. Researchers have since pointed out that the balance of trade – not health – was the main reason.
The famous story of Gustav III's twin experiment, in which one condemned twin was made to drink coffee and the other tea, is probably a later tall tale. It is not documented in contemporary sources.
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