Guess how we’re going to celebrate?
Today is the 100th anniversary of the Volstead Act, the law that put the teeth in the 18th Amendment. I speak, of course, of Prohibition. Interesting article about it here.
I know it was a disaster, but to be honest, I kind of admire us for trying. No way human beings would give up the joy of alcohol after who-knows-how-many millennia, but it’s neat that we did something so weird and radical and stupid with such grand American enthusiasm. Yay us.
Nobody quit drinking for long, of course. There were several loopholes.
Sacramental wine. Demand went up by 800,000 gallons a year.
Prescription whisky for them as could afford regular Doctor visits.
You were allowed to drink any alcohol you already owned when the law went into effect, so one wealthy judge reportedly bought a lifetime supply up front.
Poor people began to drink patent medicines and hair dyes and industrial alcohols and all kinds of dangerous and potentially fatal things.
And that’s before we get to smuggling, bootlegging and bathtub gin.
Oh, we drank. And we shall drink again. Good weekend, everyone!
January 17, 2020 — 9:39 pm
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