How much alcohol did British soldiers drink while stationed in Israel during WWI?

• Published date: 01 October 2021
• Author: JERUSALEM POST STAFF
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The bottles were found in a building that dates back to the Ottoman Empire but was used by British forces, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) Excavation Director Ron Toueg.

A trash pit was found adjacent to the building, and provided a glimpse into the daily lives of the British troops.

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Nearly 70% of the waste that was uncovered was glass bottles, which had contained European wine, beer, gin and whiskey. The large amount of alcohol suggests that the soldiers drank extensively, perhaps out of boredom or as a way to cope with the arduous and sometimes terrible experiences of war.

"On November 15, 1917, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force under the command of General Allenby conquered the area around the towns of Lod and Ramle," explained Sherri Mark, architect, conservator and researcher of the British army in Palestine, in a video uploaded by the IAA.

"Before occupying...