The country that banned caffeine was not specifically identified, but the city of Mecca banned coffee, which contains caffeine, in 1511.
The Ban in Mecca
Reasons for the Ban
- Khair Beg, the Governor of Mecca, banned coffee because he considered it a dangerous drug.
- He believed coffee stimulated radical thinking among the people.
- Khair Beg compared coffee to wine, which is forbidden in Islam, suggesting he viewed it as an intoxicant.
Context
- The ban was based on the Governor's religious and social concerns.
- It was not a national ban but a city-level restriction.
Key Takeaways
- The ban on coffee in Mecca was not about caffeine specifically, but about the perceived negative effects of the drink.
- The ban reflects historical concerns about the social and political impact of certain substances.
