Iowa Almanac
Iowa Almanac -- Thursday, July 04, 2024
Licker by the drink. More from the Iowa Almanac in a moment. Get up the summer with an Iowa Soybean Association Farmer Membership powered by the Soybean Checkup. Access timely industry info, engage in on-farm research, and join producer programs all designed to support your operations' unique needs. Activate or confirm your membership before August 31st to be entered to win one of many unique prizes, including a solo stove. The Iowa Soybean Association driven to deliver for Iowa's nearly 37,000 soybean farmers. Last month we told you a bit about Iowa's history as a state with alcohol. After prohibition was lifted in 1934, Iowa sold liquor, but only through a series of state-run liquor stores. The first ones opened in Des Moines, Marshall Town, Mason City, Atlantic, and Old Wine in June of that year. Customers had to carry logbooks in which clerks would write down what they bought, how much, and when. Employees had the right to refuse to sell a bottle of alcohol to a customer whose logbook appeared to be too full. Those logbooks were required until July 4th, 1963. That's when a state law took effect that also legalized liquor by the drink in our state. Prior to that time only beer could be consumed over the bar, liquor was only available in private clubs. It was a major issue in the 1962 campaign for governor. Democrat Harold Hughes himself a recovering alcoholic advocated more liberal liquor laws, and after he was elected, the Iowa legislature in 1963 passed a law that allowed liquor by the drink in bars. However, counties had the right of opting out of the law and remaining dry. That option remained in effect until 1972, and Sunday liquor sales were not allowed until 1973. It didn't take long for that first legal drink in a bar to be served, just a day after the law took effect, a restaurant in the Lakes Resort area of Northwest Iowa served the first legal drink in the state in more than 40 years. Over time, society and laws have changed, and now liquor is available in grocery stores and convenience stores, and establishments can get licenses to serve liquor far more easily than in the past. But the law allowing liquor to be sold by the drink for the first time since prohibition took effect on this date in 1963. And that's Iowa Almanac for July 4th. There's more online at IowaAlmanac.com. Until tomorrow, I'm Jeff Stein.