In 1971, the Most Important Drink in Austin’s History Crossed the Bar
Austin – On June 1, 1971, in the bustling city of Austin, a historic moment was written in the annals of the city’s history. It was not an election, or a law enactment, or even a revolutionary technological advancement. The event that marked this particular day was the serving of the first ever legal mixed drink in Austin’s history.
The Taste of Freedom: Overcoming Prohibition Era
The alcoholic beverage, ordered by Woody Elder, a resident of Austin, was the first legal mixed drink served at a public establishment for 51 years. The prohibition era had only officially ended in 1933, with the repeal of the 18th Amendment, but Texas, with its own prohibition amendment approved in 1919, continued enforcing state-level prohibition.
The legal consumption of alcohol had been confined to beer and wine, with customers compelled to bring their bottles to consume any other kind of alcohol. Restaurants and bars were allowed to provide “setups”, or mixers, to accommodate such customers.
A Long Awaited Legalization
This restrictiveness ended with the passing of a legislation legalizing liquor by the drink, in the late 1960s. It was a result of increasing public support, which challenged oppositions from various factions, and concluded with the local option for mixed beverage sales in 1971. However, the journey did not stop there.
Once granted permission from the local government and after paying a hefty license fee to the newly formed Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, bar owners were finally legally authorized to serve mixed drinks. Among the first group of permit holders, Christie’s Seafood, an iconic establishment in Austin, was set to make history.
A Moment to Savour: Austin’s First Legal Mixed Drink
At about 12:30 pm on a historic Tuesday, Christie’s management team welcomed a large and enthusiastic crowd watching as the permit was handed over by the district supervisor for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Woody Elder, having recently assisted the restaurant with installing an electronic bar sales system, was designated the honor of becoming Austin’s first legal drink patron.
Elder, who is now a resident in Rockport and claims not to be much of a drinker, had his moment in the limelight with Austin’s first legal mixed drink: bourbon and water. It may seem like a simple choice, but is recognized for its historical significance.
The New Age of Austin’s Nightlife and Entertainment
This ushered in a new era of nightlife and entertainment for Austin. Legalizing liquor by the drink fuelled the city’s hospitality industry, which today boasts over 1 billion dollars in local alcohol sales per year, supporting many of the city’s most cherished cultural institutions.
Without Elder’s historic drink and the shake-off of the last vestige of prohibition, Austin wouldn’t be the thriving cultural hotspot it is today. So, next time you’re enjoying a mixed beverage, consider toasting to the simple bourbon and water that started it all in Austin’s history.
