Ringing in the New Year (photo: adventuresinatlanta.com)
With so much of 2021 a blur of life disruption and quarantine, lets look back 100 years to see how our grandparents and great-grandparents dealt with one of THE social gatherings of the day, New Years!
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One notable event was the implementation of the 18th Amendment in 1919. The amendment prohibited the manufacturing and sale of alcoholic beverages. Nine months later, the Volstead Act was ratified enabling the enforcement of the law beginning in 1920.
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Hollywood takes on New Years (Photo: cometoverhollywood.com)
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If you were wealthy enough to have a well-stocked cellar prior to the effective date, you could legally drink your way through the years. Alas, not many people had the means to do this.
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For those with the means (but not the cellar), travel abroad where no such law existed was a possibility.
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Travel in luxury and have a drink (photo: ssMaritime.com)
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A loophole in the law allowed any person sailing 3-miles off coastal United States shores to engage in gambling and to legally consume alcohol. This was a little too close for comfort and the government quickly responded by extending the limit to 12-miles. Therefore, any ship, luxury liners in particular, that passed into international waters became even more popular.
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The exception being the Leviathan which was government owned and therefore subject to all laws of the United States at all times.
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SS Leviathan (Photo: Wikipedia.com)
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As such, you would think ringing in 1922 without a celebratory drink was a dull affair. And in many ways, it was. But there were ways around the law – albeit, not legal.
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Sure, you could and many did engage in “dry” New Years parties. This could be in the form of card games, bridge in particular, concert performances, or fancy-dress parties as examples.
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More often, illicit and potentially lethal concoctions were procured. It was not unusual for law enforcement to look the other way as they enjoyed a nip or two themselves. Likewise, influential men of the day – judges, lawyers, politicians, etc.
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No social distancing necessary (photo: ebaumsworld.com)
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Now, we are NOT advocating the need for alcohol to enjoy your activities. For those who do (responsibly) enjoy a drink, imagine the restriction imposed upon you by a largely unenforceable law!
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Partying on 1920 style (photo: ebaumsworld.com)
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Needless to say, a number of our reader’s grands and great grands probably indulged in a little civil disobedience at this time of year – even if they deny it!
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