Being Latino on Google Plus

Repeal Day: your constitutional right to enjoy alcohol

12/05/2011 By Leave a Comment

Today marks the day that the U.S. government finally came to its senses and repealed the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale and transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into and the exportation thereof from the United States. With the 21st Amendment the era of Prohibition was brought to an end on Dec. 5, 1933; a change that we celebrate with Repeal Day.

The 18th Amendment was signed into existence on Jan. 16, 1919 – a major triumph for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. These women strongly believed that alcohol was the root cause of all social ills and they did everything in their power to spread the worst rumors about it.

Little did these women realize, that the start of Prohibition would lead to a rise in civil delinquency and organized crime (quite the opposite of their desired effect), as well as a loss in revenue associated with production, trade and consumption of alcohol. The show Boardwalk Empire gives a us a look into what life during the time of Prohibition could have been like: waring gangs killing, looting, and scheming over who gets to import and sell alcohol, and as a result enjoy the title of “king” of Atlantic City.

But Repeal Day is not just about the freedom to enjoy copious amounts of alcohol, but more about the celebration of a return to the traditions of craft fermentation and distillation, the legitimacy of the bartender as a contributor to the culinary arts, and the enjoyment of alcohol as a sacred social custom. It’s a day to celebrate your favorite brew, cocktail, shot or mixed drink and another reason to get together with family and friends.

We have quite a few drinks to choose from:

Blueberry margarita
Paloma
Pisco truffle or Pisco sour
Coco loco
Agua de Valencia
Clericot
Canelazo
Caipirinha
Daiquiri
Cuba Libre
Mojito

So lift up your bottles or glasses and party like it’s 1933 – it’s your constitutional right to do so. We just ask that you do so responsibly.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Filed Under: Lifestyle
About Nicolle Morales Kern

Nicolle was born in Philadelphia, raised in England and Germany, and lived in Madrid, Spain for a year in college. She has a B.A. in Journalism from Drexel University.

This avid reader and writer seeks to write and create pieces that encourage people to think and question what they already know, but also to show them the lighter side of life.
Her interest in writing and working for Being Latino comes from the desire to explore what being Latino means for her as a German-Panamanian and to explore the depths of the Latino culture.

She has a passion for all things relating to books, food and booze and shares her musings on her personal blog Culture Jaunt, and currently resides in Philadelphia.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be understood to be shared by Being Latino, Inc.

Speak Your Mind

*