In some parts of the United States prohibition never ended - but how much longer can the remaining "dry" counties stay alcohol-free?
It was known as the noble experiment.
A law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages had been the dream of temperance campaigners in the United States since the early 19th Century.
When prohibition came into force, in 1920, saloons across the country were boarded up and the streets foamed with beer as joyful campaigners smashed kegs and poured bottles down the drain.
But far from ending corruption and vice, as opponents of the "demon rum" had hoped, prohibition led to an unprecedented explosion in criminality and drunkenness.
Thousands of speakeasies selling illegal liquor, often far stronger than legal varieties, sprang up across the country - and gangsters such as Al Capone fought bloody turf wars over the control of newly created bootlegging empires.
National prohibition was finally repealed in 1933, but it never quite died out.
When alcohol regulation was handed back to individual states, many local communities voted to keep the restrictions in place, particularly in the southern Bible Belt.
Today there are still more than 200 "dry" counties in the United States, and many more where cities and towns within dry areas have voted to allow alcohol sales, making them "moist" or partially dry.
The result is a patchwork of dry, wet and moist counties stretching across the south.
My region is shown as "partially dry," but I can't even comprehend what that's supposed to mean. I've got at least four alcoholic beverage stores (all selling wine, beer and liquor) within a mile or two of my house, there are at least eight bars (that I can think of off the top of my head) within three miles, and that doesn't even count restaurants that serve alcohol. What do you have to do to be considered "wet?" The only restriction I can think of is that, as a rule, supermarkets and convenience stores are not licensed to sell alcohol (but then again, neither are bakeries or shoe stores). So WTF?
Re: Dry America
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 9:06 pm
by Crackpot
I know that doesn't count Utah that has very strict liquor regulations. I think the person who drew that map was smoking something.
Re: Dry America
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:04 am
by rubato
Crackpot is right, the map is bullshit.
Idaho also has some weird-ass laws about alcohol. Oregon only sells distilled spirits in State Liquor Stores.
And in Texas it was legal to drink -while you were driving- into the 1980s.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Dry America
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:09 am
by Gob
Wet/dry map explained: Counties are classified as "partially dry" where wet communities exist within dry counties, or where dry communities exist within wet counties.
The exact definition of wet and dry differs between states. Alaska, unlike most other states, does not have counties but over 100 Alaskan communities have alcohol restrictions.
Hawaii has no dry counties.
Map researched and produced by John Walton, Harjit Kaura and Nadzeya Batson.
Sources include state governments and the NABCA.
Re: Dry America
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:24 pm
by rubato
In many Indian reservations in the western US alcohol is completely banned, the Navajo + Hopi Res for a very large example, and that is unmarked on the map.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Dry America
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:27 pm
by rubato
Most/all of these should be red:
&c.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Dry America
Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2012 5:58 pm
by dales
Makes a great high ball.
Re: Dry America
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 1:58 am
by Econoline
Some famous drunk, I forget who, once said "Well, the sign said 'Drink Canada Dry'--so I decided I'd better get started right away."
Re: Dry America
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 3:04 am
by Jarlaxle
Even in wet counties (at least in Massachusetts), there are dry towns...Wellesley comes to mind.
Not being able to buy beer at a grocery store also seems peculiar to the Northeast.
Re: Dry America
Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:28 pm
by Sean
Econoline wrote:Some famous drunk, I forget who, once said "Well, the sign said 'Drink Canada Dry'--so I decided I'd better get started right away."
It was George Best.
Re: Dry America
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 3:54 am
by dales
Didn't he play the drums in The Quarrymen?
i know, not funny.....i think i'll give myself a good bitch slap
Re: Dry America
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 4:08 am
by Sean
dales wrote:Didn't he play the drums in The Quarrymen?
i know, not funny.....i think i'll give myself a good bitch slap
Thanks Dales, now you've given me an excuse to post this.
Re: Dry America
Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 4:17 am
by Gob
The first rock'n'roll soccer superstar, fucking genius.
Re: Dry America
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:49 am
by BoSoxGal
rubato wrote:Most/all of these should be red:
Blackfeet Nation is not dry, although they prohibit sales of alcohol every year at HS graduation and during North American Indian Days, one of the biggest pow wows on the continent.
I'm not sure about all the others, but I can tell you that every one of them has a convenience store and/or bar right at the edge of the Rez, only too willing to push alcohol on the Indians.
By the way, if you look in the north central of that map, you'll see where I live - just a wee bit north of Rocky Boy's Rez. I extend a warm welcome to any of you to come visit and see this achingly beautiful Last Best Place for yourself!
I'll take you out for a beer. In Butte, we can walk from bar to bar with beer in hand. Montana is a drinking culture - which would be okay except we have the highest DUI fatality rate in the nation, twice the national average.
Re: Dry America
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:03 pm
by Jarlaxle
Damn, you DO live halfway between NO & WHERE!
Re: Dry America
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 3:51 pm
by Lord Jim
they prohibit sales of alcohol every year at HS graduation
Well that's damn uncivilized...
My HS graduation would have really sucked if it hadn't been for the open bar set up right next to band risers....
Re: Dry America
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:44 pm
by BoSoxGal
Jarlaxle wrote:Damn, you DO live halfway between NO & WHERE!
And I LOVE it; I travelled to Bozeman for a conference last week & while I enjoyed the terrific Thai restaurant I found there, the city's just too big. I've grown accustomed to small town life.
Strangely enough, I know at least a couple of fellow attorneys here who were educated at top ten law schools - but of course, we're all just incompetents. No one would choose to live in such a place!
