Absinthe: The World's Most Dangerous Drink?

To painters and poets in late-1800s France, absinthe was "the green
muse" or the "green fairy," an almost magical potion that promised
vivid dreams, wild ideas, and artistic inspiration with every sip.
By the 1910s, this once incredibly popular herbal liquor was
banned—not only in France, but in countries around the
world. Condemned as the cause of both individual ruin and
social decline, absinthe consumption was blamed for seizures,
memory gaps, hallucinations, and even murderous rage. So what's the
deal: is absinthe just a drink, or is it actually deadly? This
episode, we've got the story behind the myths, from witchy
distillers to women on bicycles, and military rations to pre-ban
bottles. Join us for the trip! Learn more about your ad choices.
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