Manhattan Adult Entertainment: On This Day in History: February 2 Brooklynites Want Their Booze on Sunday
On This Day in History: February 2Brooklynites Want Their Booze on Sundayby Phoebe Neidl (phoebe@brooklyneagle.net), published online 02-02-2010
On Feb. 2, 1902 a front-page story in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that âThree of Each Four Voters Favors Sunday Saloons.â Six years earlier, in 1896, New York State passed the Raines Law, which prohibited the sale of alcohol on Sundays, except in hotels. This prompted many saloons to throw together some rooms for rent above their bars, which in turn was believed to increase prostitution. Below is an excerpt of the Eagleâs Feb. 2 story:
âIf the results of a careful canvas are a correct indication of the views of the voting population of Brooklyn, a large, indeed a dominating majority in this borough favor Sunday opening of the saloons and legislation to that end.