Britain and France won the war in part because they were able to assure
the health and well-being of their population. Fair systems of rationing saw
the living standard of elites fall, but the living standard for much of the
population rose. For those who were not in the age group that went to war,
life expectancy, at least in Britain, went up. Restrictions on the consumption
of alcohol—the potency of beer was reduced by law, as were the hours when
alcoholic beverages could be served—prolonged the lives of those accustomed
to drink to excess. But it also meant more money left over to provide
for their families. Even more important, the wartime prosperity resulting
from the boom in factory jobs meant more money for children's clothes and
shoes. Ironically, war bread provided more nourishment than the kind most
Britons ate in normal circumstances.
World History
