Coffee in Times of Need
The 1920s were a time of great turmoil. A great portion of this aforementioned turmoil was the Prohibition Act, which outlawed alcohol in the United States. Prohibition, which started off as a positive way to manage home lives, ended up creating a more unstable nation. People who needed alcohol wanted to buy it, but were refused, causing illegal trade to occur. But what about those who did not resort to illegal acts?
Coffee, as a drink, is not necessarily something that men in the ‘20s went to, but it was not excluded. According to the Espresso & Coffee Guide, “Coffee sales in the United States increase rapidly due to Prohibition”.
As said earlier, coffee was not a drink that men in the ‘20s had as a substitute for alcohol. This meant that drinks, such as those that are of a more fruity origin, were more popular. For example, The Mixer includes the drinks Old Fashioned, The Last Word, Gin Rickey, and many more drinks.
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Old Fashioned |
Old Fashioned includes bourbon, sugars, and waters, and was commonly found at speakeasies. The Last Word is made of gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liquor, lime juice, and ice. It may have been named “The Last Word” because of its lasting effect on those that are served this cocktail. Lastly, the Gin Rickey was made with bourbon, lime, and club soda.
These drinks were later enhanced with the usage of gin, which was alcohol that was watered down to the largest amount, meaning it was a mostly harmless substance.
Eventually, Prohibition would be lifted and people wouldn’t have to worry about their alcohol consumption.
Your exploration of the Prohibition era and its impact on drinking habits is really interesting. The way you connected the rise in coffee sales to the Prohibition Act is a fascinating insight into how societal changes can influence everyday choices. The mention of popular drinks of the time, like the Old Fashioned and Gin Rickey, provides a vivid picture of the era's cocktail culture and how people adapted to the restrictions placed on alcohol.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that juices were turned to more frequently than coffee, is there a cultural reason for it or a scientific reason? Also if the juices were used as substitutes for alcohol, why is there alcohol listed in every single drink? But I think this is an interesting concept, nice job!
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you made the connection between Prohibition, to coffee, and into different fruit based juices. I think it worked as a really good way to demonstrate the way people adapted to the lack of alcohol while also slightly criticizing them for not resorting to coffee.
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