Women pour the best drinks. There, I’ve said it. It’s off my chest. You can agree or disagree (if you disagree, you’re missing out), but we’re lucky to have so many excellent women bartending in San Francisco. That wasn’t always the case. Because of this, San Francisco and the women who bartend in it, are celebrating.
See, until just 55 years ago, it was illegal to ask a gal to shake up a Moscow Mule or make a dirty martini for you. Why, you ask? Because from 1947 to 1971, California made it illegal for women to bartend.
During World War II, women took on (and crushed it at) many jobs traditionally held by men. You’ve probably heard of Rosie the Riveter. There’s even a cool museum about it in Richmond!
But did you know women earned another nickname? It was “Bessie the Bartender.”
You can find out more about this awesome event right here.
When men got back from the war, there was a big pushback. Several states created new bans on women doing this type of work, and then later reversed the bans as time marched forward and progress broke glass ceilings. But California kept their ban on the books all the way until 1971!
The fight came to a head when a topless bartending establishment got into it with the head of the dreaded ABC (California’s Alcoholic Beverages Control agency). If you don’t know your bar history, ABC was also behind Black Cat losing its license in the 50s because it was a “meeting place for homosexuals.”
In the 70s, the head of ABC’s name was Edward Kirby and he sounded like kind of a corrupt dude. In 1974 the state decided not to prosecute him for accepting a gold Swiss watch, hotel accommodations, and airline tickets to Honolulu from the brewing industry while working. Yikes!
Kirby really didn’t like the idea of a topless bartender, so he used the 1947 ban on women bartending to shut down a little joint called Sail’er Inn, which was doing business as The Classic Cat. That was a bad move on his part because the case went all the way up to the California Supreme Court, which struck down the ban. Ha! Take that, Kirby!
This year is the 55th anniversary of the whole shebang. Bartender and co-owner of The Horseshoe Tavern in the Marina, Brooke Janser says, “This is personal to me because I've been bartending in this city and state for 23 years and I co-own [the bar] with two other women. I think it's important to see how many women owned / female-forward bars and restaurants exist, as they constitute a huge part of our industry and night life.” That’s why Janser and her colleagues are throwing a party to celebrate.
You can find out more about how to celebrate here right here.
As always, tip your bartenders, and cheers to Kirby’s Lament.
