Like the Last Night on Earth
The night before Prohibition officially began, people were behaving as though it was their last night on Earth. Across the United States, countless bars and restaurants marked the demise of alcohol by handing out free glasses of wine, brandy, and whiskey. Those were the nicer, let’s say, more celebratory bar owners. But others weren’t so kind.
Detroit, the day before Prohibition. Photo from the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University. Source: ediblegeography.com
Many bars and restaurants saw one last opportunity to make a killing. They charged people an eye-watering $20 to $30 for a bottle of champagne (that’s $260 to $390 in today’s dollars). In some places, sad hymns played while coffins were carried through the crowds of drinkers. In the most prestigious bars and restaurants, posters carried the words: “Exit booze. Doors close on Saturday.”