“since US spirit sales surpassed beer sales last year for the first time ever.”
I don’t think this is true ....maybe since records were kept, but I’m of the opinion that sometime pre-1900 whiskey and rum were more then beer given the farmers need to preserve crop output, whiskey rebellion, etc
“but I’m of the opinion that sometime pre-1900 whiskey and rum were more then beer given the farmers need to preserve crop output, whiskey rebellion, etc”
Agree 100%. People these days don’t understand how heavy and widespread whiskey consumption was in the early to mid-1800s. A typical male was downing perhaps 3 or 4 ounces of whiskey daily (10+ gallons annually).