IT'S NATIONAL BEER DAY!

There are so many reasons to celebrate this time of year. There are significant holidays…the first days of spring…baseball…soccer…grilling out…flowers blooming… But who knew that it is NATIONAL BEER DAY today!?! As always, at FOOT TRAFFIC we are ready and willing to celebrate all good things. Today we are wearing our favorite beer socks in honor of this inspired day. America loves beer ---that accounts for 85% of the volume of alcoholic beverages sold in the United States. In 2012, the US produced 196 million gallons of beer and consumed roughly 28 US gallons of beer per capita annually. The state that consumes the most beer is North Dakota with a whopping 45.8 gallons of beer per capita per year. Beer contributes more than $246 billion to the US economy, providing more than 2 million jobs in America from barley farmers to merchants to truck drivers. Beer has been an important part of American culture and the Native American tribes brewed beer prior to European arrival. The first commercial brewery opened in 1632 and was located in Lower Manhattan. Most beer manufacturers were influenced by European brewing traditions, such as British style ales and German style lagers. Unfortunately, on January 16, 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States constitution brought production and sales of alcoholic beverages to a screeching halt. Prohibition was supposed to lower crime and corruption, lower taxes, and improve health in America. Unfortunately, crime blossomed, "speakeasies" were created, and organized crime thrived on bootlegging, manufacturing and distributing alcoholic beverages. On April 7, 1933, President Roosevelt signed the Twenty-first Amendment of the United States Constitution repealing prohibition. Americans were allowed to buy and sell beer once again, ending a very dry, sober period in America. National Beer Day was created when two friends, Justin Smith, a Colorado Springs Craft Beer Examiner, and his friend, Mike Connolly. They created a National Beer Day Facebook page in 2009, inviting friends to join. Word has spread and today, Americans across the country are celebrating this festive day. Get your fun beer socks today! Cheers to beer!