No more prohibition! We can drink again! This is without a doubt the best holiday there is for a stateside drinker. It’s even better than Negroni Week! (With apologies to the Campari Marketing Department). This is the day that Americans get to celebrate their right to drink! You wouldn’t think it would be such a big deal. But way back in 1919, that right was taken away from Americans, and it wasn’t until December 5th, 1933, with the passage of the 21st Amendment, that that right was restored.

Now, Prohibition and it’s legacy in the US is a weird beast to be sure. There are many odd laws and regulations in place leftover from Prohibition and from how it ended. To this day, it can making drinking in certain parts of the US a challenge, or even still outright illegal. There are strange rules governing how booze gets sold in many states and counties, and it’s almost impossible to keep track of them all.

One of my favorite podcasts, Thought and a Chaser, has many an episode digging deeply into one bit of esoterica or another around booze, and many of the strange things they find have their roots in Prohibition. Another great podcast for some fun boozing history that covers deep into the same subject is The Right to Drink.

But, history aside for the moment, let us take this day to celebrate that we can drink at all! And remember that it was not so long ago in the US where that was not allowed. Many other parts of the world have many other serious restrictions as well. And in some places, there are still restrictions prevent people from imbibing anything alcoholic at all.

So, if you’re interested and able, raise a glass of your favorite beverage today in honor of your right to drink! Happy Repeal Day!