prohibition and speakeasies - a writer's snapshot of the 1920's and alcohol

Prohibition, the 18th amendment, created bootlegging and speakeasies. As most everyone familiar with the roaring 20s knows, it was a time where everyone drank, despite the 18th amendment, and bootleggers made millions. Prohibition was repealed, obviously, since we can sell alcohol with a proper license.

In truth, prohibition laws had too many holes in them to work. These gaping holes included selling alcohol to pharmacies and priests. These holes were abused frequently. If you read The Great Gatzby you will see a shining example of this, because Gatzby was a pharmacist who sold these "prescriptions" (according to the law, that's what he was doing). Believe it or not, some priests did share with their congregations. The holes were there because the law wouldn't pass without these holes. Frankly, prohibition shouldn't have passed at all because all it did was make drinking go underground and become fashionable.

Now, we're onto the topic of speakeasies. If you've heard of the Stork Club or Cotton Club, you know the name of a speakeasy that survived until after the 18th amendment was repealed. Major celebrities went to speakeasies to drink and party, including Babe Ruth (who drank quite a lot). Most of what people there drank was bathtub gin.

To make bathtub gin (don't do this at home!) you ferment a mash of potatoes, corn sugar, fruit, or beets in a still, which produces 200 percent alcohol. You mix that with glycerin and a touch of juniper oil for taste. You then water this down by half, using your bathtub ( a sink was too small). I repeat, Do Not Do This At Home! For some to even tolerate this, it was mixed with pops, juices, and fruits. You couldn't, or shouldn't drink that straight.

After I just gave you that recipe, I feel the need to say it again. Don't Make Bathtub Gin! Cocktails were necessary because it tasted so bad and you'll kill your stomach trying to. You can buy good stuff from a store and drink responsibly and legally, instead, so do that.

Law enforcement had a nightmare dealing with what I just explained above, and so did anyone who sold alcohol of any kind (rubbing, paint thinner, etc.). The US government would add wood alcohol to make products including alcohol in the ingredients impossible to use for bootlegging. Gangsters tried to boil it out, but it wasn't completely successful. 50,000 people died of tainted alcohol during prohibition. To deter drinkers, the US government also added more of this chemical, kerosene, and pyridine.

Moral of this story, drink responsibly and enjoy your freedom to drink. And, in case you forgot, Don't Make Bathtub Gin!

Comment about what you want to hear about and God bless!

http://www.heartlandbrewery.com/inside-the-speakeasies-of-the-1920s/

http://prohibition.themobmuseum.org/the-history/the-prohibition-underworld/bootleggers-and-bathtub-gin/