I was investigating today my 4xgreat grandads trade, coal whipper. Apparantly this profession had a notoriously high rate of drunkeness, because the conditions, the heat and coal dust on the throat, meant the men had to constantly drink beer to stave off dehydration and exhaustion, apparantly they were not alowed water due to cholera, and were actually paid a portion of their wages in beer.
Anyway I came across this table drawn up by Henry Mayhew in 1881 of 'Average levels of drunkeness, in the different trades in London' compiled from "official returns of the Metropolitan Police".
Button makers, (1 individual in every) 7.2
Tool-makers 10.1
Surveyors 11.8
Paper makers and stainers 12.1
Brass-founders 12.4
Gold-beaters 14.5
Millers 16.6
French-polishers 17.3
Cutlers 18.2
Cork-cutters 19.7
Musicians 22.0
Opticians 22.3
Bricklayers 22.6
Labourers 22.8
Gen. & mar.store-dealers 23.2
Brush-makers 24.4
Fishmongers 28.2
Coach and cabmen 28.7
Glovers 29.4
Smiths 29.5
Sweeps 32.2
Hairdressers 42.3
Tailors 43.7
Tinkers and tinmen 45.7
Saddlers 49.3
Masons 49.6
Glassmakers, &c. 50.5
Curriers 50.6
Printers 52.4
Hatters and trimmers 53.1
Carpenters 53.8
Ironmongers 56.0
Dyers 56.7
Sawyers 58.4
Engineers 59.7
Turners 59.3
Butchers 63.7
Laundresses 63.8
Painters 66.l
Brokers 67.7
Medical men 68.0
Brewers 70.2
Clerks 73.4
Shopkeepers 71.1
Shoemakers 78.0
Coachmakers 78.8
Milliners 81.4
Bakers 82.0
Pawnbrokers 84.7
Gardeners 97.6
Weavers 99.3
Drapers 102.3
Tobacconists 103.4
Jewellers 104.5
Artists 106.3
Publicans 108.0
Average 113.8
(Below the Average Drunkenness)
Carvers and gilders 125.2
Artificial flower-makers 128.1
Bookbinders 148.6
Greengrocers 157.4
Watchmakers 204.2
Grocers 226.6
Clockmakers 286.0
Parish officers 373.0
Clergymen 417.0
Servants 585.7
It's quite an eye opener isn't it, especially surveyors and tool makers being so high up and well above even the labourers, its a wonder any Victorian building in London is still standing!
Anyway I came across this table drawn up by Henry Mayhew in 1881 of 'Average levels of drunkeness, in the different trades in London' compiled from "official returns of the Metropolitan Police".
Button makers, (1 individual in every) 7.2
Tool-makers 10.1
Surveyors 11.8
Paper makers and stainers 12.1
Brass-founders 12.4
Gold-beaters 14.5
Millers 16.6
French-polishers 17.3
Cutlers 18.2
Cork-cutters 19.7
Musicians 22.0
Opticians 22.3
Bricklayers 22.6
Labourers 22.8
Gen. & mar.store-dealers 23.2
Brush-makers 24.4
Fishmongers 28.2
Coach and cabmen 28.7
Glovers 29.4
Smiths 29.5
Sweeps 32.2
Hairdressers 42.3
Tailors 43.7
Tinkers and tinmen 45.7
Saddlers 49.3
Masons 49.6
Glassmakers, &c. 50.5
Curriers 50.6
Printers 52.4
Hatters and trimmers 53.1
Carpenters 53.8
Ironmongers 56.0
Dyers 56.7
Sawyers 58.4
Engineers 59.7
Turners 59.3
Butchers 63.7
Laundresses 63.8
Painters 66.l
Brokers 67.7
Medical men 68.0
Brewers 70.2
Clerks 73.4
Shopkeepers 71.1
Shoemakers 78.0
Coachmakers 78.8
Milliners 81.4
Bakers 82.0
Pawnbrokers 84.7
Gardeners 97.6
Weavers 99.3
Drapers 102.3
Tobacconists 103.4
Jewellers 104.5
Artists 106.3
Publicans 108.0
Average 113.8
(Below the Average Drunkenness)
Carvers and gilders 125.2
Artificial flower-makers 128.1
Bookbinders 148.6
Greengrocers 157.4
Watchmakers 204.2
Grocers 226.6
Clockmakers 286.0
Parish officers 373.0
Clergymen 417.0
Servants 585.7
It's quite an eye opener isn't it, especially surveyors and tool makers being so high up and well above even the labourers, its a wonder any Victorian building in London is still standing!
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