Repeal Day 2026
funSaturday, December 5, 2026
81 days from today · next occurrence
About Repeal Day
Repeal Day marks December 5, 1933, the day the United States ratified the Twenty-first Amendment and officially ended Prohibition, closing the book on thirteen dry years. It is the only constitutional amendment ever ratified to repeal another, and bartenders, distillers, and cocktail lovers treat it as the birthday of the modern American drinking culture. The date honors the moment the final state cast its deciding vote, making the country legal again after the Volstead Act had banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol since 1920.
Today the day doubles as a celebration of craft cocktails and the speakeasy culture that kept spirits flowing during the dry era. Bars pour classic pre-Prohibition drinks like the Manhattan, Sidecar, and Bee's Knees, distilleries host tastings, and historians retell stories of bootleggers and rum runners. It is a toast to the end of an experiment that famously failed.
When is Repeal Day?
| Year | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 5, 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | December 5, 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | December 5, 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | December 5, 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | December 5, 2030 | Thursday |
History of Repeal Day
Prohibition began on January 17, 1920, when the Eighteenth Amendment took effect and outlawed the production, sale, and transport of intoxicating beverages. Instead of a sober nation, the law produced speakeasies, bootlegging empires, and a surge in organized crime, while ordinary citizens who drank responsibly were labeled criminals. Support eroded through the Great Depression, when legal alcohol promised jobs and tax revenue. Congress passed the Twenty-first Amendment in February 1933, and state conventions ratified it by December 5, 1933, ending the national ban and returning the regulation of alcohol to the states.
How to Celebrate Repeal Day
- Order a pre-Prohibition classic such as a Manhattan, Sazerac, or Bee's Knees at a cocktail bar.
- Read about the Twenty-first Amendment and how state conventions ratified it.
- Watch a Prohibition-era film or a documentary about speakeasies and bootleggers.
- Visit a local distillery or brewery that offers tours and history talks.
- Host a 1930s-themed gathering with jazz records and vintage glassware.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is Repeal Day?
- Repeal Day is observed every year on December 5, the anniversary of the day in 1933 when the final state ratified the Twenty-first Amendment and ended national Prohibition.
- Is Repeal Day a public holiday?
- No. Repeal Day is a cultural observance, not a public holiday. Government offices and schools operate normally, though bars and liquor stores often lean into the celebration.
- How do people celebrate Repeal Day?
- Cocktail fans celebrate by mixing pre-Prohibition classics, bars run speakeasy-themed nights, distilleries host tastings, and history buffs revisit the story of the Eighteenth and Twenty-first Amendments.
- What exactly does Repeal Day commemorate?
- It commemorates the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933, which repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and ended thirteen years of national alcohol prohibition in the United States.