HISTORY

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Wine is perhaps the oldest of all alcoholic drinks. One that has endured through thousands of years. There is a legend that is claimed to be its birth. A neglected harem girl was sad because of her master (who is said to be a Persian King). She tried to end her loneliness by drinking from a jar marked poison. It contained grapes that had fermented. But after she had drank this undiscovered liquid she felt so much better that she gave a cup to the king. He was so delighted that he welcomed her back into his harem. People began to ferment anything they could to bring the same sensation, from milk to honey to sugar cane and berries. Soon alcohol was an international delicacy. They used these liquids for other purposes also. It was commonly used in religious ceremonies and still is today. It was considered gifts from the gods, with magical powers. Alcohol was used for centuries as medicine and tonic, usually mixed with some herbs; Weddings and victories were celebrated with wine or ale. One story I particularly enjoy is the one about how the pilgrims let beer play an important part of their trip. It seems that they were on the way to Virginia when the crew discovered the short supply of beer. So they quickly docked their ship at Plymouth, and the crew was able to retain the beer for themselves. In the early 1600s new types of alcoholic beverages were being discovered in Europe. By extracting the alcohol from fermented liquids these beverages became more potent. Highland Scots and Irish distillers made whiskey. The French distilled wine to make brandy. In Russia and Poland they distilled Vodka. In the West Indies they made rum from sugar cane. Mexican Spaniards distilled mescal, what was later to be tequilla. In America they welcomed all of these spirits and soon rum became the most popular drink. One founding father,

George Washington, used alcohol when he ran for the Virginia Legislature, giving each voter a barrel of rum, beer, wine or hard cider. He also made his own rye from his own grain in his own stills. Through the next few decades population spread across the great divide and towns grew into cities. The more it grew, the more demand for the bar and tavern. The first of these were the shot and beer saloon types that were known to be in every small western town. Then there were the bars with hotel and restaurant, these were the businesses that profited the most from the early period. Soon these places grew to clubs with entertainment, like dance shows and plays. The bar business grew hard, with the growth of our country. Seventy years ago prohibition was moving to curb the use of alcohol and end its establishments. But this only lasted 13 years, because it was impossible to enforce. It seems that prohibition had an opposite effect on alcohol consumers New York City had over 30,000 speakeasys, twice as many as before prohibition. Also this added to the problem because organized crime took over the business. So in 1933 Congress passed the Twenty First Amendment reapealing the Eighteenth. America was checkered with wet and dry counties. Some parts are like that today. After the repeal the beverage manufacturing industry took over where it was before prohibition. There were still people that were against selling liquor. It was the fifth largest industry in the country. Today the bar business is bigger than it has ever been. New drinks are being developed all the time. Only 358 of our population is in dry counties. More women drink than ever before. Not only do more people drink these days but more and more Restaurants are serving Liquor as part of normal Culture. People drink at home and in bars, Unlike the traditional ways of just in a Pub or tavern. Yes, we have come a long way since the days when Columbus

carried half a gallon of red wine per sailor per day on the Santa Maria. Or in 1833 when

Abe Lincoln and a partner sold Rum, gin, brandy, wine and whiskey for 12 1/2� a pint. In fact liquor is sold in every state and the District of Columbia. So where ever You may go, You will always find a place that may need a bartender.