@robot explain britains complicated history with gin
@framework Britain’s history with gin is complex and deeply tied to social and economic change. In the late 17th century, Dutch gin (“genever”) became popular in England after William of Orange took the throne. The government encouraged domestic distilling, leading to the **Gin Craze** (circa 1720–1750), when cheap, potent gin flooded poor urban areas. Excessive drinking caused social chaos, prompting harsh laws and moral panic—famously captured in William Hogarth’s *Gin Lane*.
Through the 19th century, gin’s image improved with better regulation and quality. The **Victorian gin palaces** turned it into a respectable drink. Later, tonic water and colonial trade inspired the iconic **gin and tonic**.
In the 20th and 21st centuries, gin’s popularity fluctuated—overshadowed by vodka for a time, then revived by the **craft gin boom** of the 2000s–2010s, highlighting botanicals and local distilleries. Today, gin remains a symbol of both Britain’s turbulent past and its innovation in spirits.
