Alcohol in the Viennese Parliament

Abstract

During every year's budget debate in the National Assembly, alcohol was one of the main topics to stir passions. The discussions regarding the high level of taxes on beer, wine and spirits was usually heated, since it was always difficult to bring into line the interests of the state, the producers and the numerous consumers. But alcohol was present in the national assembly in a number of other ways as well. The Austrian Parliament – among many other things – housed an excellent restaurant that offered the MPs above-average service at moderate prices. A number of excellent coffee shops and public houses were also located in the immediate vicinity of the parliament. If we are to believe the MP from Maribor, Gustav Kokoschinegg, the parliamentary restaurant was always busy, while the big plenary room usually remained empty. The honoured representatives of the nation’s favourite past time was playing cards and drinking. By the time of the evening sessions, the MPs were already a bit tipsy and were thus not afraid to tackle topics about which they did not have a clue. Drunkards, however, came not only from the ranks of German MPs; it was also the rosy red cheeks of the most successful Cisleithanian Prime Minister, Count Taaffe, that testified convincingly that the man was a true lover of good wine. It was not for no reason that German MPs were designated the “intoxicated pre-Teutons” by their political opponents. Quite a few lovers of alcoholic stupefaction also came from the ranks of Slovene MPs, who apparently spent more time in local public houses than in the parliament. MPs appearance in the debates often showed signs of some of that political self-confidence that – as Jaroslav Hasek puts it – gets aroused by alcohol. The MPs' speeches too often resembled what Ivan Robida referred to as “drunk talk”. Alcohol, of course, was also an inevitable part of the obstruction excesses that were common in the national assembly from the end of the 19th century. It is thus no wonder that during the climax of the obstruction against the Badeni language ordinances in November of 1897 the parliament reminded the correspondent of Slovenski narod of the most godforsaken tavern.