Nina Studer, a Swiss medical historian, delves into the intricate relationship between alcohol and French colonialism in North Africa. She discusses how societal views on alcohol consumption reveal broader historical narratives of gender, class, and nation. With a focus on absinthe, she traces its rise and fall in popularity, and how its use among soldiers became a source of anxiety for colonial powers. Studer's insights shed light on the cultural folklore surrounding alcohol in this era, making for a captivating exploration of history and identity.