
Hogarth's famous Gin Lane, was not meant to just show the evils of drinking, but specifically the evils of drinking gin. It was one of a pair, the other was Beer Street. Beer Street showed London as Hogarth envisioned it, consuming beer instead of gin. Here the citizens were a perfect picture of health, as morbid obesity was considered health at that time.
I wonder if he were alive today what the pictures might look like!