National Beer Day and Prohibition Backstory

Celebrate National Beer Day with a wild true story that sounds completely made up—but isn’t. In this solo episode of Are You Sh!#ing Me?, Brett dives into the shocking history behind April 7, 1933—the day beer became legal again in the United States after 13 years of Prohibition.

From the passing of the 18th Amendment and the strict enforcement of the Volstead Act, to the rise of speakeasies, bootleggers, and crime bosses like Al Capone, this episode uncovers how America went from dry to desperate.

But it gets darker—did the U.S. government really poison alcohol during Prohibition, leading to thousands of deaths? And how did Franklin D. Roosevelt help bring beer back just days into his presidency?

You’ll hear how Americans celebrated at midnight on April 7, 1933, drinking over 1.5 million barrels of beer in 24 hours, including a reported $5 million sold in Chicago alone. The twist? It was only 3.2% beer.

If you love weird history, shocking facts, alcohol history, or just need a reason to crack open a cold one—this episode is for you.

Cheers to the end of Prohibition, the return of beer, and one of the craziest days in American history.