On January 17th, 1920, the federal government enacted the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution (otherwise known as the Volstead Act). The amendment forbade the “manufacture, sale and transportation of intoxicating liquors”. It was the dawn of the US Prohibition Era. We are all, at the very least, somewhat familiar with how that worked out. For the ensuing 13 years, Prohibition gave rise to criminal enterprises that had not previously existed and made criminals out of formerly law-abiding citizens. Ironically enough, it was not illegal to consume intoxicating liquors, just the aforementioned practices.
This all sounds incredibly familiar now in our state. The government, with little or no consultation with its citizenry, has enacted “rules and guidelines” that seem to inherently and cripplingly punish those that are perceived as “non-compliant”. This is happening even as businesses have done all within their power to adhere to the ever-changing, capricious and mostly vague rules set forth by those in power. Small businesses take the brunt of the guidelines and enforcements, many of which are forced to shut down, never to return. Individual entrepreneurs seem to be targeted, making them outlaws in the eyes of the state by doing nothing more than plying their craft.
From the outside, this may seem overly dramatic. In general, the day to day lives of the citizens of New York are unaffected by these rules and guidelines. It is also understood that, in the midst of a global pandemic, something needs to be done to stem the tide and flatten the curve. Even as support waned for the “noble experiment” that was Prohibition, upon its repeal in 1933, national alcohol consumption had dropped on average by 30%. At what cost? It all depends on your perspective.
That is why we are setting out, in a weekly series of interviews and essays, to gain a broader perspective on the cause and effect of this ever-changing landscape. It is easy to get caught in a vortex, when the vortex is all consuming, regardless of where you stand in this spectrum. We in the entertainment and services industries are no exception. Therefore, it is our goal to give voice to those affected. From bar, music venue and restaurant owners, bartenders and wait-staff, to solo musicians and bands. We also want to hear from the medical professionals, those personally affected by Covid-19, the lawmakers and those tasked to enforce the codes. It’s time to take the blinders off, listen to one another, and try to affect real, sustainable and equitable change that will hopefully move us forward together.
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