Each new day we are reminded of the levels of prohibition that still exist in today’s society. As we move into the sixth week of our second COVID-19 shut down, this year, small businesses are struggling to survive. Some may say that prohibition ended in the late 1920’s, but that is not the case. Prohibition has been very much in place, it has just taken different forms over the years. It has restricted and limited many small crafters that operate within the many levels of manufacturing, distributing and selling of alcohol products.
In Texas, we recently have been reminded of the limitations that have been put upon the industry. To remain in compliance current restrictions have either severely limited how small businesses can operate or just disallows them to open. This will continue to affect the lives of many Texans for weeks, months and possibly years. We have seen businesses being forced to lay off their staff and others have found it necessary to temporarily close their doors. Sadly some may never be able to have the opportunity to reopen. An addition, as crafters of wine & spirits, we are dependent upon the farming community for the underlying agricultural products that we us to craft those wonderful spirits and wine. So the ripple effect of shutting down our crafted industry reaches far beyond our tasting room doors.
Recently American Thinker released an article by Fay Voshell, “A New Prohibition is Silencing the Deplorables”. In this article Voshell ponders, “… if the health of Americans was truly the issue, there would not be so much arbitrariness and inconsistent application of rules and regulations. The people who are under the laws of the new Prohibition can see the inconsistencies clearly. It seems odd to them that COVID-19 virus is apparently far more active in churches, small businesses, and eateries, than it is in densely packed crowds of protestors whose righteous ideology apparently immunizes them from the virus’s deleterious effects.”
Here at Flanigan’s we have always been concerned for the health and safety of our customers and during this difficult time we recognize that many American dreams are vanishing with each passing day. This was true 100 years ago when prohibition started. The American economy, the hopes, and dreams of Americans were greatly impacted by the elimination of what had become more than 40% of the American economy. As you fast forward past those 100 years we would like to remind you that the gumption of the American spirit will return, but in the meantime please don’t forget to patronize the American dreamers who make up the wonderfully creative small businesses of this nation.
You can read the full article at: https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/08/a_new_prohibition_is_silencing_the_deplorables.html