Where We Live: Last Call For Alcohol
How the Hell Did That Happen?
Writer Daniel Okrent had another name in mind for his new book about the Prohibition of alcohol in the U.S. – How the hell did that happen?
In other words, Okrent writes: how did a nation that loves its freedom install in the Constitution an amendment that sorely limited that freedom?
Good question.
Today, Where We Live, the first public editor of the New York Times talks about “Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition.” It’s set to be featured in an upcoming PBS documentary by Ken Burns.
It tells the story about how the burgeoning suffrage movement – in part - led a nation of big drinkers toward a “dry” period of 13 years. Of course, it wasn’t really dry at all.
Bootleggers, rum-runners and speakeasies were the celebrated outlets for scofflaws. But did you know about exceptions for “medicinal” use or religious use?
We’ll discuss what led to prohibition – what happened during the period – and what lessons we’ve learned.
Okrent will be speaking at the Connecticut Historical Society on Tuesday June 22, 5PM. More information.
Send to friend
Printer-friendly version
Comments
Listener Email from Terry
I think, unless I missed something early in the program, your guest did not give some of the strong reasons for drinking - I'm thinking of the 17th century, for instance - he did mention the Puritans. Water often made people sick. There was no way to keep milk fresh for long. Tea and coffee weren't much known yet, but would turn out to be healthy drinks because the water for them was boiled. Fruit juices were seasonal.It was natural for people to ferment fruit and grain - it lasted.
Evidently Ben Franklin urged the printers in London to stop drinking so much beer so that productivity and accuracy would improve. The problem was what would they drink then.
Post new comment