Most new vegans learn about veganism through the internet and social media. What the UK Vegan Society may "decree" about the definintion of veganism is largely irrelevant to thinking vegans. As an academic exercise, it's interesting to review the decades of bickering and infighting on honey and other issues. But in any case, what the UK Vegan Society believes is of little importance to the vast majority of vegans.
In 1944, honey was determined by a majority of the Society to be non-vegan (although some founding members continued to consume it). Then in 1948, honey was permitted as vegan. Then it was banned again in 1962, then permitted again from 1972 to 1988. Here is a brief overview:
In 1944, Watson and his UK Vegan Society co-founders debated whether or not honey should be considered vegan. The majority of the founders decided it should not be considered vegan, and this was put into the definition of vegan. Yet some of Watson's vegan co-founders, such as Mable Cluer, disagreed and continued to consume honey all their lives. They were still considered vegan by the Watson vegans, and by the Cross vegans as well, who took over.
The UK Vegan Society's published definitions of veganism stated that honey could be part of a vegan diet -- or that the issue of honey consumption was "left to individual conscience" -- for 14 years. Honey was fine for vegans from 1957 to 1962, and then again from 1974 to 1988. During those years, the Society's newsletter included a number of recipes calling for honey.
Page 2 of each of the Society's newsletter listed the definition of vegan and the "rules" of veganism. By surveying the changing definition of vegan (see listing below), it's clear honey was not a black and white issue for vegans.
At Vegan Society Today, we encourage vegans to avoid honey, but as Watson, Cross and the earlier vegans did, we leave honey -- as we do everything beyond the vegan diet -- to the conscience of the individual.
May 1945
Veganism is the practice of living on fruits, nuts, vegetables, grains, and other wholesome non-animal products.
Veganism excludes as human food; flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey; and animals' milk, butter and cheese.
Veganism aims at encouraging the manufacture and use of alternatives to animal products.
Spring 1946
The aims of the Society are:
1. To advocate that man's food should be derived from fruits, nuts, vegetables, grains and other wholesome non-animal products and that it should exclude flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey, and animals milk, butter and cheese.
2. To encourage the production and use of alternatives to animal commodities.
Spring 1947
The aims of the Society are:
(a) To advocate that man's food should be derived from fruits, nuts, vegetables, grains and other wholesome non-animal products and that it should exclude flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey, and animals milk, butter and cheese.
(b) To encourage the production and use of alternatives to animal commodities.
(c) To extend and organise Veganism nationally and internationally between those endeavouring to follow this way of life.
Spring 1948 -- (Honey is removed as a banned food)
The Vegan Society, founded 1944, ADVOCATES that man' food should be derived from fruits nuts, vegetables and grains, and ENCOURAGES the use of alternatives to all products of animal origin.
Spring 1954 (belated catching up with Cross's Constitution, after Cross re-joined the committee, the 1950 change and new rules were published inside the magazine in 1951, but the newsletter definition was not changed until 1954 -- still no mention of avoiding honey)
The Society affirms that man has no right to exploit animals, advocates that man's food should be derived from fruits, nuts, vegetables and grains, and encourages the use of alternatives to all products of animal origin.
Winter 1954 (getting stricter, but no prohibition on honey)
Veganism is the doctrine that man should live without exploiting animals.
The Vegan Society seeks to end this exploitation in its many forms, advocates that man's food should be derived solely from the vegetable kingdom to the exclusion of all animal products, encourages the production and use of alternatives to commodities of animal origin, promotes veganism at home and abroad, and facilitates contacts between those endeavouring to further the aims of the Society.
Summer 1957 (back to food as #1- following John Heron's members' meeting - no prohibition on honeys)
Veganism is the practice of living on the products of the plant kingdom - to the exclusion of all animal foods - proceeding from a wide consideration of man's place in nature.
The objects of the Vegan Society are to provide in thought and practice for the advance of veganism and to relate veganism to every aspect of creative co-operation between man and nature.
Summer 1962 (Animal Rights vegans take over again, honey now prohibited)
Veganism is a way of living which excludes all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, the animal kingdom, and includes a reverence and compassion for all life. It applies to the practice of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey, animal milk and its derivatives, and encourage the use of alternatives for all commodities derived wholly, or in part from animals.
Veganism remembers man's responsibilities to the earth and its resources and seeks to bring about a healthy soil and plant kingdom and a proper use of the materials of the earth.
Autumn 1972 (honey removed as banned food)
The Vegan Society, founded 1944, advocates living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of all food and other commodities derived wholly or in part from animals. Its members base their lives on the ethic of Reverence for Life and seek to free themselves from all forms of cruelty and exploitation. They are aware of man's responsibilities to his environment and seek to promote the proper use of the resources of the earth.
Winter 1974 ('exploitation' has gone, along with 'reverence' honey still not banned):
Veganism is defined as a way of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, animal milk and its derivatives. It encourages the study and use of alternatives for all commodities normally derived wholly or partly from animals.
The objects of the Vegan Society are to further knowledge of an interest in sound nutrition and in veganism and the vegan method of agriculture as a means of increasing the potential of the earth to the physical, moral and economic advantage of mankind.
Winter 1979 (honey affirmatively mentioned as permissible):
Veganism is defined as a way of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, animal milk and its derivatives (the taking of honey being left to individual conscience). It encourages the study and use of alternatives for all commodities normally derived wholly or partly from animals.
The objects of the Vegan Society are to further knowledge of an interest in sound nutrition and in veganism and the vegan method of agriculture as a means of increasing the potential of the earth to the physical, moral and economic advantage of mankind.
Winter 1981 (much expanded, honey still affirmatively mentioned as permissible):
The Vegan Society was formed in 1944 by a group of vegetarians who had become aware of the suffering inseparable from their diet. Its advantages as regards human health and the wise use of the world's resources became apparent and in 1964 it was granted Charity status. In 1979 it became a Limited Company and its Charity status was confirmed. Its declared object is "to further knowledge of an interest in sound nutrition and in veganism and the vegan method of agriculture as a means of increasing the potential of the earth to the physical, moral and economic advantage of mankind".
Veganism is defined as a way of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, animal milk and its derivatives (the taking of honey being left to individual conscience). It encourages the study and use of alternatives for all commodities normally derived wholly or partly from animals. Free from commitment to any religious, political, philosophical, social, dietary or medical group, members of the Vegan Society endeavour to co-operate with all who are seeking a positive way forward for mankind.
Summer 1985 (exploitation is back at the top, but honey still optional)
Veganism may be defined as a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, the animal kingdom for food, clothing or any other purpose. In dietary terms, it refers to the practice of dispensing with all animal produce - including flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, (non-human) animal milks, and their derivatives, with the taking of honey being left to the individual conscience.
[the society's website claims that this definition began in 1979 - they are clearly wrong, as the previous definition appeared in its newsletter until spring 1985]
Winter 1988 - as above, except honey added to the list of banned substances.