If you’re in need of a reason to hoist a beer, a shot, or a glass of champagne, check this list:
JANUARY: Super Bowl Sunday — gather friends, snacks, and refreshments and root for your team. Americans buy about 50 million cases of beer for this day.
FEBRUARY OR MARCH: Fat Tuesday — Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans intensify in the two weeks preceding Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Get orange and pineapple juice, several kinds of rum, and make Hurricanes.
MARCH: Purim — commemorates salvation of the Jewish people by Esther and Mordecai in ancient Persia from the anti-Semitic official Haman. Purim (which literally means “lots”) is typically marked by costumes, food, and parades. It’s a time to drink wine.
MARCH: St. Patrick’s Day — born late in the fourth century to an aristocratic British family, Patrick was abducted and taken to Ireland just before his 16th birthday. He escaped and returned to Britain after six years in slavery, then later went back to Ireland and spent the rest of his life ministering to the people who had enslaved him. March 17 observes the day of his death and is a day for all things Irish including Guinness and your favorite Irish whiskey. Green beer is optional.
MAY: Cinco de Mayo — commemorates the 1862 battle of Puebla that Mexico fought and won against the advancing French army led by Emperor Napoleon III. It is celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla but is not an official Mexican holiday. Cinco de Mayo is observed in the US as a celebration of Mexican heritage, in particular by alcohol companies seeking to tap the Hispanic market. The perfect drink is Mexico’s own Margarita with salsa and chips. Repeat as necessary.
MAY: Kentucky Derby Day — each year 155,000 people attend this two-minute horse race that has been going on since 1875. They drink 120,000 mint juleps as they watch, a drink made with mint, sugar, ice, and Early Times whiskey. Join in, and wear a hat.
JULY: Independence Day — the 13 American colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches. Think hot dogs and beer at the lake or in your back yard.
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER: Octoberfest — this 16-day festival in Munich starting in late September and continuing through the first week of October is attended by five million people each year. Picture blond-braided waitresses carrying three or four mugs of foamy German beer in each hand.
OCTOBER: Halloween — though typically a sugar overdose day for costumed kids, adults have dress-up parties too. The occasion demands cocktails with themey names like Zombie, Purple Haze, Corpse Reviver, Pumpkin Patch, Vampire’s Kiss, Monster Mash, and of course, Bloody Mary.
NOVEMBER: Thanksgiving Eve — this is one of the biggest bar nights of the year. Seek refuge in Godfathers, Whiskey Sours, and Manhattans as you dread the arrival of relatives.
DECEMBER: Christmas — a day families gather to exchange good cheer. Enjoy non-alcoholic eggnog, mulled cider, hot chocolate, and holiday punch and set a good example for the children.
DECEMBER: New Year’s Eve — the year is gone; there’s another coming up. Toast what you’ve accomplished and what you plan to with a glass of champagne. Bartender, another round here.