Drinking in America, Our Secret History

[Flopper]

Hey, I remember back in '84 when I had the chance to tour a British Navy ship while in the Med, and they actually had beer taps on the mess decks. The dude that showed me his boat said that they were allowed 3 pints a day.

Even out at sea.

Serving alcohol on the job is more common than you might think. Many advertising firms and public relations firms sport bars. Many breweries allow their employees to drink beer on the job as well as many small internet companies.

 

[Moonglow]

When the canal from Tonawanda to Black Rock was constructed in 1824, workers were brought in from the East. Irish immigrants had been hired in large numbers, anxious for the high wages offered in a nation short of labor. Eighty cents a day and regular whiskey rations kept the men at their task until the canal was completed.

Erie Canal

 

[Steven_R]

Even the weak Prohibition Amendment had a favorable effect, despite all the sniveling to the contrary. It never outlawed drinking or people being able to brew their own booze at home, and of course it did reduce consumption and the rampant domestic violence associated with it; it was an overall positive for most of the country, women and children.

Yeah, it was great if you didn't mind an increase in organized crime because of the profitability of black markets, gang gun fights in the streets over territory, corruption by public officials being bought off to look the other way, the unshackling of law enforcement to fight the war on booze, and a general disregard for law and order by John Q. Public simply because they wanted to get their drink on. It was so beneficial that even the Temperance Movement leadership said it just wasn't worth it in the long run.

Prohibition was the gift that kept on giving.

 

[Unkotare]

Where is the "secret" part?

 

[bodecea]

I fix a dinner in my residence, watch a good movie in the livingroom and drink a beer.

Camping, good conversation and food cooked on a campfire after the sun sets.......enjoy a beer.

At night in the warmer months - Full moon and the surrounding area is lit up like a bright summers day........Cigar and a beer ; set in a chair....relax and enjoy the moon.

At home, writing my book ( my second one ) ; set at the computer and enjoy a beer.

I do not drink to get to get drunk, but I enjoy a few beers if the setting is right. There is weeks at a time I never take a sip.

I am now saving up for another vehicle. After I get that done, I will be setting money aside for property out of state - near my favorite city.......where I can really enjoy a "Cold One".

Shadow 355

The colonists, the founders, and early settlers rarely drank just to get drunk. They drank, mostly beer or cider, because water supplies were often questionable. The farmer would take a pale of beer or cider into the fields. When work was done in towns and villages, families, not just the menfolk would gather in taverns to share pints of ale, food, and news of day.

However drunkenness was common during the American Revolution. Our national anthem was drinking song in taverns throughout the colonies. The battle of Lexington was a classic encounter between those who drank too much and those who had to deal with them; that is, the militiamen, who'd been boozing for hours at a tavern on the green, and the British soldiers.

As the nation grew and became more prosperous, Americans began drinking more. Their tastes turned more to harder liquors such as whiskey and rum. By the 1830's, America was becoming a nation of drunks. Children drank at school and were welcomed in taverns. Some form of alcohol was served at most meals. This gave rise to temperance movements of the 1830's and 40's.

The history of drinking and it's place in American history is fascinating.

The Prohibition movement had no chance of getting a ban on alcohol nationwide UNTIL the Income Tax Amendment was passed because up to then, the biggest income for the Federal Government was a tax on alcohol.

 

[Flopper]

I fix a dinner in my residence, watch a good movie in the livingroom and drink a beer.

Camping, good conversation and food cooked on a campfire after the sun sets.......enjoy a beer.

At night in the warmer months - Full moon and the surrounding area is lit up like a bright summers day........Cigar and a beer ; set in a chair....relax and enjoy the moon.

At home, writing my book ( my second one ) ; set at the computer and enjoy a beer.

I do not drink to get to get drunk, but I enjoy a few beers if the setting is right. There is weeks at a time I never take a sip.

I am now saving up for another vehicle. After I get that done, I will be setting money aside for property out of state - near my favorite city.......where I can really enjoy a "Cold One".

Shadow 355

The colonists, the founders, and early settlers rarely drank just to get drunk. They drank, mostly beer or cider, because water supplies were often questionable. The farmer would take a pale of beer or cider into the fields. When work was done in towns and villages, families, not just the menfolk would gather in taverns to share pints of ale, food, and news of day.

However drunkenness was common during the American Revolution. Our national anthem was drinking song in taverns throughout the colonies. The battle of Lexington was a classic encounter between those who drank too much and those who had to deal with them; that is, the militiamen, who'd been boozing for hours at a tavern on the green, and the British soldiers.

As the nation grew and became more prosperous, Americans began drinking more. Their tastes turned more to harder liquors such as whiskey and rum. By the 1830's, America was becoming a nation of drunks. Children drank at school and were welcomed in taverns. Some form of alcohol was served at most meals. This gave rise to temperance movements of the 1830's and 40's.

The history of drinking and it's place in American history is fascinating.

The Prohibition movement had no chance of getting a ban on alcohol nationwide UNTIL the Income Tax Amendment was passed because up to then, the biggest income for the Federal Government was a tax on alcohol.

Prohibition was dead the day it was signed into law. Most of those who supported the law wanted to reduce alcoholism in America but had no intention of giving up drinking. The worst offenders were leaders in government and business.

 

[longknife]

Prohibition opened up amazing business opportunities everywhere. Few realize just how much.

In southern California, Catalina Island had a casino/ballroom that was always packed. There were a number of gambling ships up and down the coast. Tijuana became a very popular destination because of its racetrack and casino with outstanding entertainment. Same thing at all most all border crossings north and south.