New Beer’s Eve in the United States Date in the current year: April 6, 2024

The National Prohibition Act was passed by the Congress in October 1919, over President’s veto. The United States went dry on January 17, 1920. Despite the good intentions of temperance activists, the Prohibition had a lot of negative effects such as the rapid rise of speakeasies (illicit establishments selling alcohol beverages), the growth of organized crime and corruption, unemployment, tax loss, and more.

The beginning of the end of the Prohibition occurred as a result of the Cullen—Harrison act of 1933 that legalized the sale of beer with an alcohol content of 3.2% by weight (4% by volume) starting April 7, 1933. The anniversary of the day when sales of beer in the United States became legal is now celebrated as National Beer Day.

Then night preceding this day is referred to as New Beer’s Eve to commemorate how people lined up outside taverns and breweries on the evening of April 6, 1933, waiting for midnight when they would be able to legally buy beer for the first time in more than a decade.