Wednesday, August 24, 2011

24 August 1921: "Precarious Quality" White Lightning


On this day in 1921, the Athens Banner ran this small story about a discovery on Clayton Street downtown:


Federal alcohol prohibition had been in effect since 1920, but in Georgia had been in effect since 1908. Even after the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was repealed in December, 1933, Georgia did not allow the sale of alcohol until 1935, with some counties choosing to remain "dry" even today. 

One of the possible additions to the "drink," paregoric, was a common household medication that included opium. By 1921, the ingredients of medicines had to be disclosed to consumers, but it was still available over-the-counter, primarily as a treatment for diarrhea. The drug was used into the 1970s, and is still available as a prescription. 


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