Denver Prohibition: The Mile High Dry

One of the hallmarks of witnessing the unfolding of a historic event in your lifetime is being able to remember exactly where you were when it was happening. In the case of the Denver Prohibition, The Mile High Dry - this was exactly the case for me. I remember it vividly, it was Monday March 23rd 2020, the lockdown was starting up in full force. People were hoarding toilet paper and clamoring for lysol wipes while I spent the morning in various zoom meetings. At 1400 hours my eyes told me that it was time to do anything but peer into a dimly lit computer screen, my legs told me it was time for a walk- so I did. When I returned to my apartment I flipped on the news in a haste, according to CNN, the entire world was ending. It was hard to take everything in especially with the afternoon and my ambitions slowly fading for the day. The time was approximately 1500 hours, still thumbing through channels in an attempt to find something somewhat palatable for my tired eyes to feast on I was quickly interrupted. I felt myself break out in a cold sweat and my heart begin to race- not because of the news, but because I was watching cops. That was a hell of a vehicle pursuit… again, I switched channels and landed on the news. At that time, it became inescapably clear to me that the entire world as we knew it was indeed ending: the Mayor of Denver formally announced in a press briefing that all marijuana dispensaries and liquor stores were non-essential businesses. Since they were deemed non-essential businesses they were to close effective at 1800 hours the following day. The events to follow that fateful briefing would live in infamy through T-Shirts and extremely frivolous articles like this one which memorialize this cataclysmic error in judgment! My suspicions were quickly confirmed, less than three hours later the Mayor decided that enthusiastically encouraging people to hoard alcohol was probably not within everyone’s best interests. Just like that, The Mile High Dry - The Denver Prohibition was officially over. I survived, but I was one of the lucky ones- because I live outside of Denver. We stand in solidarity and remembrance in commemorating the first upcoming anniversary of this historic event.

March 23, 2020 1500 - 1800 will not be forgotten.

All joking aside, there are millions of people and businesses who are still struggling from the effects of the pandemic. Together as communities we can all support these businesses and each other through seemingly small but strongly impactful actions. Shop at small businesses whenever possible, be a good neighborhood, be a decent person, and drink local, drink better- always drink responsibly!