James Nicholls traces the takeover of wine in Britain:
When William Gladstone reduced tariffs on French wine imports in 1860, it was sold as an opportunity to "civilize" British drinking habits by making wine more widely available. To reinforce the point, Gladstone introduced legislation making the sale of wine for home consumption and in restaurants much easier. Wine sales rocketed in the following decade — but then, so did sales of all other alcohol and the civilizing claim remained questionable. …
Since the 1960s, wine consumption has increased enormously.
Supermarket sales have been key to this, but so too has been increased foreign travel, the globalization of the wine market, and the rise of aspirational drinking among an expanded middle class. The rise in British wine drinking has mirrored the decline of the British pub. Today, sales of alcohol for home consumption (including beer) outweigh sales in licensed premises.
Gladstone's vision of Britain as a nation of domestic wine drinkers has been achieved. We have, at last, caught up with the French, and — alors! — now have liver disease rates to match as well.
If the above ad is any indication, there's still hope for beer lovers in New Zealand.
The Dish 