In the early days of the United States, people did not drink water very often. Diseases such as typhoid fever and cholera were real threats from drinking water. Instead, hard cider was the
drink of choice — even children drank it. The alcohol in the cider killed bacteria, preventing
diseases that water could carry. Between 1800 and 1830, the average American drank 23 gallons of alcohol each year; hard cider made up 15 of those gallons.

The effects of the Civil War, the Temperance Movement, immigration, and Prohibition resulted in hard cider going from the most popular drink in America to a special unfermented treat enjoyed in the fall. Part of this change is attributed to a move by apple growers promoting sayings like "an apple a day keeps the doctor away". These sayings helped to change the public's perception of apples and contributed significantly to the survival of the industry.

~ Hard Cider: A Story of War, Immigration and Prohibition

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