Ben Franklin made up 200 terms for being wasted

The NY Post ^ | December 30, 2017 | Larry Getlen

[beaversmom]

Ben Franklin is often quoted as having said, “Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

But he was actually talking about wine.

In a 1779 letter to French artist Francois Morellet, Franklin began by stating, “In vino veritas . . . Truth is in wine.”

He then continued to wax lyrical: “Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards. There it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.”

The new book, “Stirring the Pot with Benjamin Franklin,” by Rae Katherine Eighmey (Smithsonian Books), out Jan. 16, delves deep into Franklin’s love of food and drink. Eighmey says that Franklin’s fondness for boozing was closely tied to his enjoyment of socializing, as “he had a substantial wine cellar and substantial orders of wine, because he was entertaining a lot.”

“He was a joyful host,” she told The Post. “He enjoyed the company of friends in taverns and [he had an] intellectual club that met in one. He saw the benefit of shared convivial punch bowls in conversation and in negotiations, but above all he was pragmatic and he cautioned repeatedly against overindulgence.”

Indeed, in 1724, when Franklin was just 18, he worked at a printing house in London where his co-workers’ diets were mostly liquid.

“The pressman at British printing houses thrived on a pint of beer before breakfast, a pint at breakfast with bread and cheese, a pint between breakfast and dinner, a pint in the afternoon at about 6 o’clock and yet another when the day’s work was done,” Eighmey writes.

Franklin, meanwhile, drank only water at work — his colleagues called him a “Water-American” — and was able to lift and carry twice as much type...

[beaversmom]

The 200 terms are at link...

[mowowie]

“Here’s to alcohol: the cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.” - Homer Simpson

[irish guard]

Ping...I need to remember some of these

[Texas Eagle]

His head is full of bees. Heh, heh. Hence the term, buzzed.

[CopperTop]

Mike Rowe touched on this in his series of "How Booze Built America". Excellent 3 part series!

My favorite: "He et a pudding bag" d;^)

[ßuddaßudd]

I can see it now,, BF getting his Swerve on, outside in the rain, with a kite, a mug of ale, a cigar, . .
lol

[Lurker]

There’s an excellent documentary called “How Beer Saved Civilization”. It’s worth an hour of your time.

L

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks beaversmom.

[BroJoeK]

Nice list, I notice only a few of those are still used.
One that's not there is: "three sheets to the wind", but we do see:

1. "He's right before the Wind with all his Studding Sails out."

2. "He carries too much Sail."

3. "He’s got his Top Gallant Sails out."

4. "Lost his Rudder"

And we can note too, no insults about drunken sailors.
Those were different times!

[Jamestown1630]

Ben Franklin has to be the most all-around fascinating character in our early history.

[Jamestown1630]

My favorite:

“He’s been too free with the Creature”

[colorado tanker]

In the days before water treatment it was often safer to drink beer rather than water.

[CopperTop]

Mike Rowe and Ben Franklin prolly would have enjoyed each other's company.

The old school term from where I used to live in Southport, NC was "sweet as a peach". d;^)

[nesnah]

Ahhh, Southport. Love that place.

Best 4th of July Festival in the galaxy.

[Jamestown1630]

‘Sweet as a Peach’ is a good one!

I like Mike Rowe very much; he’s one of the really common-sense people that we have impacting the general culture today :-)

[CopperTop]

It was swell. But the swelling's gone down.
Now residing in "Hog Town". (Better BBQ) d;^)

[CopperTop]

It was swell. But the swelling's gone down.
Now residing in "Hog Town". (Better BBQ) d;^)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks colorado tanker. Still is, in a lot of places.