Happy Repeal Day, December 5, 2025
Lots to celebrate!
On December 5, 1933, Utah ratified the 21st amendment to the U.S. Constitution, effectively repealing the 19th amendment and ending Prohibition. After 13 years of bathtub gin, illicit speakeasies and mob control of illegal alcohol, Americans could once again produce, import, sell and consume wine and other alcoholic beverages in public. Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald could come home from their exile in Paris, and H.L. Mencken lost his primary cause celebre.
Notable Americans born on December 51 include Martin Van Buren, the 8th president, Walt Disney and Strom Thurmond. Notable American writers who share this birthday include Joan Didion, Calvin Trillin and me. (Yes, this is the only way I could ever put myself in the same context as those illustrious scribes.) Also, and to no specific relevance, more disappearances occurred in the Bermuda Triangle on December 5 than any other day of the year.2 So there.
Imbibers enjoy celebrating me — er, Strom Thurmond — er, Repeal Day with 1930s dress-up parties and copious cocktails and champagne. As if we needed an excuse to party. (Okay, maybe for the dress-up.)
But there’s a serious reason to celebrate Repeal Day this year: The New Prohibition wants to take our celebration away.
As I’ve written here on Substack, the movement I call The New Prohibition is trying to change the public discourse from responsible, moderate consumption of alcohol to a simple but scientifically misleading mantra that “there is no safe level” of alcohol consumption. They aren’t — yet — calling for prohibition, but they are trying to denormalize alcohol consumption and stigmatize anyone who partakes, however moderately.
As W.C. Fields said, “What scurrilous scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?”
The U.S. has always had a fraught relationship with alcohol. The Whiskey Rebellion was fought over a tax on alcohol. The Temperance Movement led to Prohibition. In my lifetime, we’ve seen warning labels about over-consumption and the campaign by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which very appropriately made the argument for responsible, moderate consumption. Today, the “no safe level” mantra is trying to change the discussion from “know your limits” to “there are no limits — any alcohol will kill you,” from “don’t drink and drive” to “don’t drink.”
So today we should celebrate our right to partake in responsible consumption of alcohol, knowing this right is once again under threat. We should also celebrate people who are fighting The New Prohibition with truth, science and logic.
Here are three heroes of the Resistance against The New Prohibition. Let’s celebrate them this Repeal Day:
Laura Catena is promoting scientific findings of health benefits of moderate consumption of alcohol and fighting against pseudo-scientific findings supporting Prohibition at her website, In Defense of Wine.
Felicity Carter has followed the money trail of interests pushing the “no safe level” argument and shown how it’s not based on science and how the drinks industry may be misunderstanding the danger. Felicity’s Drinks Insider Substack is the leading voice on the pushback against The New Prohibition.
Tom Wark specializes in poking at beehives, and he has poked many holes in the “scientific” studies cited by The New Prohibition to argue that any alcohol consumption causes cancer. His Fermentation newsletter is a must-read for anyone with a material or emotional connection to the wine community.
This is a childhood memory of mine that I’ve oft repeated over the years. However, on looking at the Wikipedia entry on the Bermuda Triangle, apparently January 30 and 31 are the most dangerous dates to be flying or sailing through this area. So this article may be the final time I toss this tidbit out there. Oh well. Guess I’ll stick with Strom Thurmond.
Happy coming birthday, Dave. Whatever damage alcohol may have done to me over the last 60 (legal) years, at 81 I'm still standing and now too old too give it up.They can pry the flute, or snifter, or flagon from my cold, dead fingers.
Happy birthday, Dave! You were born under a good sign (Repeal), and have used that karma wisely for the benefit of all. Thank you.