Coffeehouse moral panic?

June 21, 2013 5:04 AM

I'm trying and failing to find a 17th or 18th Century tirade about the deleterious effect on culture caused by coffeehouses. It's a good everything-old-is-new-again moral panic. And my google fu is failing me.
posted by colin_l to Society & Culture (7 answers total)

Could it have been the women's petition against coffee?
posted by pipeski at 5:10 AM on June 21, 2013

Or Charles II's proclamation for the suppression of coffeehouses?
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:12 AM on June 21, 2013

The Women's Petition Against Coffee 1674
Representing to Publick Consideration the Grand Inconveniencies accruing to their Sex from the Excessive Use of that drying, Enfeebling Liquor. Presented to the Right Honorable the Keepers of the Liberty of Venus. By a Well-willer
posted by adamvasco at 5:19 AM on June 21, 2013

There's also ‘A Character of Coffee and Coffee-Houses’ by ‘M.P.’ (1661).
posted by misteraitch at 5:32 AM on June 21, 2013

Thanks! That's the one!
posted by colin_l at 5:59 AM on June 21, 2013

Bonus!
Glad you found it. This might interest you too, from today's NYT:
Social Networking in the 1600s

posted by LonnieK at 6:29 AM on June 23, 2013

ooh, Lonniek! The Anthony Wood quote mentioned in there might have been the one I remembered!
posted by colin_l at 9:42 AM on June 23, 2013