Repeal Day!

[Portrait of men and women in prop automobile], 1937, v1986.283.46; Burton family papers and photographs, ARC.217; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Friday, December 5 marks the anniversary of the repeal of the 18^th Amendment with the 21^st Amendment in 1933.  The 21st Amendment made it legal once again for Americans to distill, distribute, and consume alcohol.  While this is a Federal law, more specific rules are set by each State regarding the sale, import, distribution, and possession of alcohol within its boundaries – for instance it may be legal for an individual under the age of 21 to drink alcohol with his/her parents.

Congress also passed the Federal Uniform Drinking Age Act in 1984 which set the drinking age to 21.  When states do not enforce this Act, the Federal government may withhold funding for highways in the noncompliant state.  These are just a couple of the rules regarding activities related to alcohol; more information can be found at the ATF: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the law enforcement agency of the US Department of Justice.

I’ve written about the photograph above in a previous post.  Today, I am taking a different perspective by presuming the inhabitants of this car are enjoying the end of Prohibition.  The Museum of the American Cocktail says, “We celebrate Repeal Day^® because December 5th marks a return to the rich traditions of craft fermentation and distillation, the legitimacy of the American bartender as a contributor to the culinary arts, and the responsible enjoyment of alcohol as a sacred social custom.”  It is fair to say that Brooklyn fully endorses the craft everything.  Therefore, many events may be found to imbibe with other like-minded people by looking here or hey, just stop by your local spot. I’m sure the bartender will receive you well.

For the past several years, we’ve acknowledged Repeal Day with other blog posts.  Do look back at the 2013, 2012, and 2010 posts.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. Interested in seeing even more historic Brooklyn images? Visit our Brooklyn Visual Heritage website here.  To search BHS’s entire collection of images, archives, maps, and special collections visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Sat, 1:00-5:00 p.m. photos@brooklynhistory.org