"Rum was considered especially beneficial for people working outdoors in cold and wet conditions because of the way it supposedly radiated tropical warmth through the body."
"Amazingly, historians have scarcely noticed rum's empire over early Canada, despite its intimate connection with the imperial wars of the eighteenth century and the staples trades."
"Adults in Newfoundland in 1770 consumed 34.6 litres of alcohol in rum alone, while the figure for New Brunswick in 1821 is almost as high."
"Military personnel and workers in the extractive industries drank rum and little else, highlighting its dominance in the alcohol consumption of that era."
In the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, rum was widely consumed in the colonies that became Canada due to its affordability and perceived health benefits. It was especially favored by outdoor workers in cold conditions. Historical data shows that alcohol consumption was high, with Newfoundland adults consuming 34.6 litres of rum in 1770. Despite its significance, historians have largely overlooked rum's role in early Canadian society, particularly its connection to imperial wars and the extractive industries.
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