Raise a Glass, Not Taxes, On National Beverage Day

Friday, May 6 is National Beverage Day. The day was borne in the early 20th century and even though a day of celebrating beverages may seem obscure, consumers must beware that New York City billionaire Michael Bloomberg has made it a mission to deter adults from the consumption of certain beverages – including sodas and carbonated drinks. So, celebrate as you can, as a soda tax may be coming to your state or city.

Some of the earliest mentions of the national day date back to 1924 when aMarch articleinThe Timesof Montgomery, Alabama noted that on the “first Wednesday of next May, throughout the United States approximately 12,000 bottlers of these bubbly beverages will celebrate the centennial of their industry.” Reported activities were to include tours of carbonated beverage manufacturing facilities, samples and “public meetings at which speakers will relate the history … and the endorsements … given by U.S. government and state authorities, medical men and food specialists.”

The national day was endorsed by the then-American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages – now known as theAmerican Beverage Association(ABA) – which used the national day to educate the public on the safety of their products.

The ABA was established in 1919 and is a perfect example of the market addressing flaws and issues related to consumer goods. During the early 1900s, many foods and drinks came under intense scrutiny as the federal government moved to establish a national regulatory agency, which became the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.