With Three Celebrations that Just Can’t be Missed

Each December, Repeal Day emerges as one of the favorite cultural soirées of the holiday season and the favored celebration for American boozeworkers across the country. January 16th 1919 marked the date congress passed the 18^th amendment, outlawing the production and consumption of alcoholic potions that were believed to be the root of all evil and the cradle of broken families and empty values.

THE 18TH AMENDMENT: RATIFIED JANUARY 16, 1919

SECTION 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

SECTION 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

SECTION 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

Americans in the time would ironically band together to fight the 18^th Amendment and its supporting temperance unions, of which would include Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who would build a 1932 Presidential Campaign to overturn the bill passed 13 years prior. The 21^st Amendment was introduced to congress and approved for reinstatement of the American right to raise a glass on December 5^th 1933.

THE 21ST AMENDMENT: RATIFIED DECEMBER 5, 1933

SECTION 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

SECTION 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use there in of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

SECTION 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.

The cultural defeat of the 18^th Amendment would mark a date in American history that is not only celebrated, but also cherished across an industry that significantly impacts the growth and development of American economy. According to an assessment performed by the Distilled Spirits Council of United States, “the U.S. beverage alcohol industry is a major contributor to the economy, responsible for over $400 billion in total U.S. economic activity in 2010, generating nearly $90 billion in wages and over 3.9 million jobs for U.S. workers. In 2010, distilled spirits accounted for over $120 billion in total economic activity, or 30% of total economic activity from all beverage alcohol.”

It comes as no surprise that the industry of workers in the economically-impactful community of booze would have a reason to celebrate. The December 5^th anniversary in 2013, marks the 80th year of prohibition repeal and major celebrations extend through the week in the Denver area with no short of righteous congregation. The most notable celebrations that we could find include:

Wednesday, December 4^th | 7:00 pm – 1:00 am

Repeal Eve Carnival of Elixirs at Green Russell – You are invited to travel back in time to a 1933 carnival celebration on the eve of Repeal Day – the end of Prohibition! For one night only, Green Russell and the George Dickel brand will host a wild carnival celebration with exclusive drink specials, live music from Minor Note Orchestra and burlesque from Denver’s Vivienne VaVoom. Standing will be permitted, and celebratory drinking will be encouraged.

$10 at the door for entry and a drink. Feel welcome to dress the part. If you’ve been following anybody on the Green Russell team on Facebook, It looks like they’ve been working up something pretty special to kick the 80^th Anniversary Repeal Day off quite swimmingly.

Thursday, December 5^th | 8:00 pm – 12:00 am

Colt and Gray & Ste. Ellie Repeal Day Soirée – This year, Colt & Gray and Ste. Ellie celebrate the bar men and women that fled the US to Cuba during Prohibition to pursue their passion for hospitality & great cocktails with Cuba-born-and-scorned Bacardi Rums. Join as they celebrate the right to imbibe in honor of the bar men and women and the classic cocktails that were born of their passion while in Cuba during the Great Experiment.

Featuring prohibition era photography, live entertainment, and prohibition giveaways.

Sunday, December 8^th | 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Central Bistro Prohibition Punch Brunch – Finish off the Repeal Weekend with Central Bistro as they celebrate with complimentary Prohibition Punch featuring George Dickel’s newly released ‘Mellow as Moonlight’ Dickel No. 1 varietal. Central, hosting a variety of cocktails featuring the George Dickel line of spirits, will also be offering a complimentary brunch buffet to close out the Repeal Weekend (or launch of the boozeworker weekend) in good company, great food, and fine spirits.

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