Seventy-Five Years Ago: Economic Man, Meet Beer-Drinking Man

Counting Down to April 7, the Anniversary of the Return of Legal Beer

March 19, 1933:

The day fell on a Sunday that year, and newspapers filled their extra sections with speculations about the fate of the "beer bill" chugging through Congress.

Several days earlier, the House of Representatives had passed a version permitting the sale of 3.2% beer. Would the Senate go along? Would it demand a higher content? Lower? Would the "drys" get their way and stop any legislation?

Never mind the goofy illogic of the situation: A third of adults were out of work, and nearly as many were homeless. Where would people find the money to buy beer?

That question might "puzzle Adam Smith," observed one commentator. "But it will puzzle no one who remembers that beer-drinking man and economic man are not the same person."

And this "psychological moment" belonged to beer-drinking man. When beer "[made] its bow," then "happier . . . days" could not be far behind. ___________________________ Source: "New Flow of Beer Will Bring Social and Economic Changes," New York Times, March 19, 1933, p. 2XX.

Beer is Bad for Science?

According to a recent study, the more beer a scientist drinks, the less productive he/she will be, at least as measured by the number of papers he/she publishes.

(Scientists, especially ones at universities, publish the results of their research in scientific journals. The more papers someone publishes, the better his/her professional reputation. In theory, at any rate.)

You can read about this, um, earth-shattering revelation here in the New York Times.

It's worth reading this, however, for a counter-view. Maybe the important conclusion is that beer isn't a brain enhancer?

Seventy-Five Years Ago: Don't Worry. We're Ready

Counting Down to April 7, the Anniversary of the Return of Legal Beer

March 18, 1933:

A reporter in Milwaukee set out to answer a question plaguing the newspaper's readers: Were the city’s brewers really ready to go?

The answer? Yes.

“Our tanks are fairly bulging," said one brewery representative, “and if they don’t give us the word to go pretty soon, the sides of our building will be pushed out."

Well, okay, a slight exaggeration. But who cared? The sweet smell of real beer was in the air. ____________________________ Source: “Brewery Vats Bulge Awaiting Word to Go," Milwaukee Sentinel, March 18, 1933, pp. 1 and 3.

Fun With Groucho and CHUD

Thanks to Groucho and CHUD at beerreport.com for taking time to interview me today. Somehow they got the idea that I have half a clue; I didn't have the heart to burst their bubble . . . .

Seriously, these are two smart, funny, and totally irreverent guys. What's not to love? Check out their website, including links to their podcasts and forum ("The Confrontation Board") here.

The interview with me will be up at their site sometime during the week of March 24.

Seventy-Five Years Ago: Women Be Wise ...

Counting Down to April 7, the Anniversary of the Return of Legal Beer

March 17, 1933:

The Women's Christian Temperance Union issued a statement warning women against the dangers of beer. "If women take to the beer habit, they have only to look at some of the beer drinkers in London slums to see what is ahead of them. Beer makes fat." (No word on whether German women suffered the same fate...)

The WCTU promised to continue its war on booze, especially beer, which the organization denounced as "the most brutalizing of all drinks," because it "induces and perpetuates the alcohol habit . . . ."

"No nation," the ladies warned, "ever drank itself out of depression."

Phhhtttt! This was the same song-and-dance the group had been performing for more than fifty years. At least this time the audience wasn't watching. _____________________ Source: "Women Warned of Fattening Beer," New York Times, March 18, 1933, p. 2.

The Beer Can House and Other Wacky Stuff

Well, okay. Might be worth a road trip.........

.......to visit the Beer Can House in Houston, Texas. It's now owned by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art (translation: a group of people who've rounded up enough dough to buy, preserve, and celebrate the work of local eccentrics.)

The group's site is here. Roll your cursor over the round icons at the top to find the Beer Can House and other delights.

There's a story about the house in today's New York Times.