Ever since absinthe was outlawed due to rumours it led to insanity, this simple drink has become the nation's go-to apertif.

The ban on absinthe in 1915 paved the way for the rise of pastis, a beloved French aperitif that remains a cultural icon today. Recognizable as the quintessential aperitif in France, its popularity ...

But in the early part of the 20th century, the moral panic of the day wasn't over intoxicants in general; it was focused on one drink ... It was like absinthe in virtually every way except for ...