National Beer Day

April 05, 2018

National Beer Day

Here's one for the adults out there who fancy the occasional frothy refreshment - Saturday April 7 is National Beer Day!  

But why commemorate and dedicate a single special day of the year to beer (or 'cerveza' as we call it here in Bolivia)? Well, believe it or not, we actaully have a past US president to thank for it...

 For over a decade between 1920 and 1933, beer and alcohol were banned in the United States. This ban was set in place by the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, with the period of time collectively known as 'The Prohibition Era'. The 18th Amendment, however, failed miserably. It was largely ignored, with people turning to brewing their own beer and distilling their own spirits at home, as well as smuggling in illegal 'bootleg' beer and alcohol from Canada.

On March 22, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Cullen-Harrison Act as part of the 21st Amendment. Upon signing the legislation, Roosevelt made his famous remark:

"I think this would be a good time for a beer".

This act repealed the 18th Amendment, and as such, the prohibition of beer and alcohol in America. Effective April 7, 1933, people could once again (legally) buy, sell and consume beer!

 But I wouldn't be including all the details without touching on the events of April 6, 1933 - the night before prohibition came to an end. Known as 'New Beer's Eve', millions of anxious Americans lined up at breweries and distilleries to purchase legal beer and alcohol at the stroke of midnight for the first time in 13 years.

During the 24 hours that followed on April 7, Americans consumed a whopping 1.5 million barrels of legal beer and ale. With this, National Beer Day was born!

Beer is now consumed and enjoyed all over the world, and is the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. With hundreds of individual and unique styles ranging from a common Lager or Ale, to a not-so-common Oyster Stout or Passionfruit Hefeweizen, there is something to suit all tastebuds.

Always remember to drink responsibly, and enjoy in moderation if you decide to 'hop to it' and have a cold one this National Beer Day.

Salud!

Written by Steve Connors

steve@beyondbeanie.org 




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