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Happy Repeal Day! (An Important History Lesson)

December 5, 2009
Kelly
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58 Comments

Prohibition Ends at Last - Repeal Day

December 5th is Repeal Day in the United States. What’s Repeal Day you ask? Well, around the turn of the century, some uptight cunts decided that all of America’s problems could be solved by outlawing the consumption of alcohol. Somehow or other they managed to pass the Volstead Act in 1919– a law that plugged up the holes in the 18th amendment and made it illegal to imbibe, prosecutable to get plastered, verboten to be… very, very drunk.

Over the next 13 or so years, upright citizens suffered the dirge of dryness while organized crime ran rampant, fueled by a huge black market demand for alcohol. Finally, on December 5th, 1933, the 21st amendment was ratified, which repealed prohibition and once again made it legal for Americans to enjoy alcoholic beverages. People went nuts and unleashed 13 years’ worth of pent-up partying. Gin and Vodka rained down like dollar bills in a strip club. Beer and wine flowed freely like a stream of expletives from the mouth of a Detroit hooker.

We have a few “drinking holidays” in this country that didn’t start out as such, including St. Patrick’s Day and New Year’s Eve. And while many people in this nation use the fifth of May, or Cinco de Mayo– a Mexican holiday– as an excuse to get drunk, most of them don’t know anything about the fifth of December– or Cinco de Drinko — and don’t celebrate it. If there’s any single day of the year that should be celebrated with copious amounts of boozing, it’s the one that made it legal for you to do so.

Could you imagine not being able to enjoy a beer while watching football or relaxing after a hard day of work with a glass of wine? How many random bar friends would you not have made? How many white boys wouldn’t have danced? How many annoying drunk bitches wouldn’t have passed out on the sidewalk in a puddle of their own effluvium? How many of you would never have gotten laid were it not for the momentous historical events that took place on this day 76 years ago?

It’s high time that we Americans pay respect to our country’s heritage and raise a glass on this day, Repeal Day, to celebrate the return of our individual imbibing freedoms. Head out tonight to your favorite local bar, or get together with friends for a drink. For were it not for the 21st amendment that was ratified on this day, you wouldn’t be able to.

Happy New Beer’s Eve!

58 CommentsLeave a comment

  • This was a really interesting post! I’d love to see this as a semi-regular feature: “on this day in history, something quirky happened” like TV dinners were invented, stuff like that.

      • Actually, most current studies are finding that Marijuana isnt’ a gateway drug to other more potent drugs.

        In fact, the current theory, in teens anyway, is that they tend to smoke pot because it is EASIER to get than booze and cigarettes.

        Some studies are pointing to the fact that pot might be a gateway drug to cigarettes and booze in teens.

        The gateway theory at this point is fast losing credence over several general factors:

        1) anyone that is an early rule-breaker generally does so for the rest of their life, and

        2) developmental environment. lack of parental care and guidance tends to lead to drug abusing teens.

        Further, actual drug abuse in adults peaks in the mid 20’s and generally tapers off into adulthood. Anyone still abusing drugs to the detriment of work and social life will likely have some underlying psychological issue.

  • I can easily imagine not watching football while drinking beer or having a load of bar friends, because I don’t drink. And, most of my friends don’t drink. And the ones that do are okay with that. I must be amazing for you to fathom, but I am actually perfectly content, and not some demon conservative. I’m actually rather liberal. My college democrats group actually asked me to leave because I am TOO liberal (I support gay marriage, and they say gay marriage is wrong and will only go so far as to support civil unions).

    I don’t call people who choose to drink names, I simply acknowledge that it’s a difference choice, and I certainly believe they should have the right to drink. So maybe I just miss being an “uptight cunt,” which is rather harsh of you to say to begin with. You know what, some people have a different opinion than you do, and that’s okay (in some cases they might even be right – wow!).

    And, since I don’t think you’ve done much historical research, the temperance movement, which began during the antebellum like most fledgling reform movements in the country, was actually died down more so than normal when prohibition was passed. What mostly sparked the amendment was actually WW1 and anti-German sentiment, though those from the temperance movement were happy to play along.

    • Oh, please–She wasn’t calling people who choose not to drink “uptight cunts,” she’s referring to people who decide to press their own morals on others via the law. Have a drink and lighten up.

    • oh get over yourself. hooray for your right to CHOOSE not to drink. And hooray for the ammending of the consitution that allows me the right to CHOOSE to!

    • Unlike everyone else I’d like to say more power to ya, Bia! I don’t think shes trying to say alcohol should be illegal. I think shes just trying to say yes, she can imagine watching tv without a beer and yes, she can imagine not using a glass of wine as a relaxation tool after a hard day. The post sort of assumes everyone drinks and that’s just not true.
      The post also assumes the people of the temperance movement were uptight controllers. But actually a lot of it had to do with women having few rights at the time and it was a common problem at the time for men to drunkenly gamble away the family’s and the wife’s hard earned money and to drunkenly abuse their wives while the law did not protect these women at all. At the time of the temperance movement I don’t think they were trying to be controlling, just protective.

      • Why do the two commenters who say they don’t drink both sound like they have sticks up their butts? Hmm…

      • Excuse you. Maybe you should think before you speak. I am a recovering problem drinker. THAT is why I don’t drink, not because I am some stuck up person.
        I think it’s fine if people want to drink. I, personally, just can’t anymore and was saying that not everyone drinks and people should realize that people who don’t drink might have some sort of reason that isn’t a stick up their butt.

    • Will someone from the united states please explain to me how it makes any sense that you can be married in one state and not another? what is the real difference between civil union and marriage? is it just the name?

  • Actually, Prohibition in America made it illegal to produce, manufacture, and transport alcohol not to consume it. Yay Repeal Day!!

    • True, and you could also (and still can) make up to 200 gallons of wine (but not beer!) to consume.

      It also lead to a massive rise in crime and to a general disrespect of law.

  • December 5th is my husband’s birthday! That is sooo fitting that it’s also the anniversary of legal drinking.

  • Funny thing is even in Texas to this day, there are numerous “dry” counties. I never lived in a town that was “wet” until about 3-4 years ago. And being “wet” means only beer and wine. No hard Liquor sales.

    Even with prohibition repeal, it is still a little hard to find a liquor store outside of Dallas city limits in North Texas. Which sucks.

  • I don’t pass moral judgements about drinking, but just out of curiosity: what good decisions have any of you made while drunk? what bad decisions have you made? Maybe people don’t get drunk every time, but why even start down that path? It’s a toxin pure and simple and has cumulative effects over time. And there are lots of other things like sugar etc which cause negative reactions in your body, so I’m not just down on alcohol–I don’t get any kind of behavior that can only potentially have a negative impact. Why would you want to do that to yourself? You can have fun without bringing your life down in the tiniest bit.

    And for the “wine is good for you” people–you know, you could eat some red grapes to get the same benefit without the cons of wine . . .just sayin’

    • The best “decisions” I ever made while drunk are precisely the “non-decisions” that come from being uninhibited. I’m not a terribly demonstrative person when I’m sober, nor do I prefer to talk about emotional topics. A little social lubrication has gone a LONG way in my relationships–the friends I’ve gotten drunk with are some of my closest. Now, they wouldn’t be if we didn’t also have many, many more sober hours together. But for me, the drunken college years proved to me that nothing bad will happen if I hug my loved ones, tell them how much I appreciate them, or admit my own insecurities.

      As for bad decisions: I’ve made my fair share. But nothing so awful that I’m totally ashamed to this day when I think about them. The truth is, you’re the same person intoxicated as you are sober. Did I make out with some inappropriate people, make a fool of myself in front of strangers, make some potentially dangerous decisions? Yes. Absolutely.

      But the thing for me, anon, is that the risks of being a little bit foolish don’t outweigh the benefits of letting loose, feeling free, and actually dancing without caring that I’m so, so bad at it. I don’t see my drunken escapades as “bringing my life down.”

      *Disclaimer: I realize that I am lucky enough not to be prone to alcoholism. I absolutely understand if people choose not to drink because there is a history of alcoholism in their family–that truly may be too big a risk to take. For me, it wasn’t, and I don’t think worrying that you’ll “bring your life down” or “start on a path” of toxicity is a very well-informed reason to abstain from alcohol altogether.

      It is possible to drink in moderation and get the “buzz” without all the stupidity. That is where I am now that I’m out of college, and it’s a perfectly lovely balance. If you’re afraid that this balance is impossible to achieve, I would say that that’s a poor reason to avoid all alcohol.

      • It’s really sad that you can’t deal with your problems directly . . .some people make an effort to improve themselves, not just get by (it’s called truly growing up, not just having a certain number of years behind you). might be good to talk to someone who has good self esteem and get a few tips. . .your parents would prob say the same.

        I’m 22 and don’t have to escape reality because I can actually handle it. Hopefully, you are younger because you sound awfully immature.

        FYI: I posted the last comment out of curiosity because I wondered what ridiculous things people would be willing to say to support bad choices.

        Good Luck to you in life!!

      • That seems a bit harsh. Having trouble tapping into your emotions has nothing to do with coping in the real world. In fact i’m willing to wager the more real world control you assert over your life the more buried your emotions become generally speaking. The “real world” is mostly composed of layers of myths anyway – being able to get away responsibly is a very good coping mechanism. The comment Katie posted made me think she sounded like quite a well adjusted person. Dancing after a few drinks? – pretty innocent fun in the scheme of things.

      • Thanks, Alice! I think my mistake above was actually taking anon’s question at face value and trying to give an honest answer. Foolish me! Obviously she is only interested in reinforcing her idea that all drinking is bad.

      • I honestly don’t know how you got that I don’t try to “improve” myself from my earlier post. Or that I have self-esteem issues. Anyway, I’m proud to tell you that I try to improve my life every day, have great self-esteem, and am pleased that I do not “just get by,” but thrive…even with the occasional drink.

        But obviously you don’t want to hear that. You NEED me to be a mess, because otherwise you couldn’t justify your judgmental attitude toward anyone who drinks, even in moderation.

        Enjoy your grapes and your high horse.

    • There really is absolutely nothing wrong with one or two beers or one or two glasses of wine. Plus, a lot of people drink because it tastes good, not so they can get shitfaced. Most nights, i’m okay with just having a beer because I enjoy the taste, not so I can get a buzz.
      Obviously, getting drunk every weekend is detrimental to one’s health but, when it comes down to it, getting drunk is just flat out a damn good time. Anyway, the way that responsible people drink, which is in moderation, doesn’t have any more of a negative impact on your health than indulging in some chocolate cake or mcdonalds or getting tan in the summer because you didn’t religiously slather on sunscreen every half hour.

    • No bad or good decisions, just the feeling of being floating while the music takes you somewhere else, where you can forget your boyfriend has broken up with you or you will be failing that year at Uni. I get drunk with my friends (not always!) and it’s a social tool. We have fun, we take funny pictures and do things we wouldn’t dare to do when sober. Nothing else, nothing less.

  • I’d rather consider the tragic-cruel statics of what alcoholics and substance abusers do to their families and friends.

  • Bravo and cheers. Here’s to being able to. Here’s to enjoying it. Here’s to being responsible. And here’s to not dumping your own shit onto somebody who’s not bothering you. Bitches.

  • Fabulous post Kelly! I really enjoyed reading this little gem… and then I posted it on my FB so everybody I know could enjoy it :-) Keep up the great work kiddo!

  • Bravo and cheers. Here’s to being able to. Here’s to enjoying it. Here’s to being responsible. And here’s to not dumping your own shit onto somebody who’s not bothering you. Bitches.

  • Found this blog doing a google search for HDCP+blogs. I have to say the scope of everything here is huge and daunting. Its gonna take me sometime to explore it all, so sorry in advance for ‘lurking’. Will post when I have a grip!