It is often said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. And that certainly proved to be the case when, on this date in 1920, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect, and the era of Prohibition came roaring in. America was officially “dry.”

There was a reason they called it the Roaring Twenties. It wasn’t just the jazz, and the short skirts, and the women’s right to vote (19th Amendment, same year). It was also the speakeasies, the bootleg liquor, and the gang wars that arose as a result of that well-intended 18th Amendment.

And wow! Did that ever backfire!

Originally aimed at reducing “crimes, corruption, social issues, prison and poorhouse taxes, and to improve health and hygiene in the United States” [calendarr.com, January 17, 2025], what it actually did was create a whole new set of the same problems, along with an additional one — a sharp decrease in government revenues that had once been received by way of taxes from the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.

It took 13 years and a Great Depression, but in 1933 Congress finally woke up and passed the 21st Amendment; the bootleggers were put out of business; and people were once again able to buy beer, wine and liquor that they could be pretty certain wouldn’t kill them — consumed in moderation, of course.

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Other than that, not much else seems to be worth commemorating on January 17th. But looking ahead, I can suggest some excuses for planning a party or two during the second half of January, such as:

January 20th – U.S. Inauguration Day. You may or may not be inclined to celebrate this one; it’s entirely up to you. But if you are one of those who won’t be making merry on this day, take heart . . . because the very next day is:

January 21st – National Hugging Day. And there’s nothing more comforting than a big, sympathetic hug from a like-minded individual. So find a soulmate, lean in, and hug away. It’s only for four years.

January 22nd – National Blonde Brownie Day. In case the hugs didn’t do the trick, a sugar rush might help.

January 27th – National Chocolate Cake Day and National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. A double catharsis for those still in mourning from the 20th.

January 31st – National Hot Chocolate Day. To wash down the chocolate cake, of course. And just because it’s more chocolate.

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I haven’t looked any farther ahead on the calendar, but I’m hoping there will be something in February on the order of:

National Snap Out Of It and Get Back To Eating Healthy Day. Because by the end of this month, we’ll all have ten pounds of sugar-induced bloat to get rid of.

But what a way to go!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/17/25