Did you know that in 1896, New York's attempt to curb Sunday drinking led to the creation of the world's most durable sandwich?
The Raines law, passed to reduce alcohol consumption, required bars to serve a meal with every drink on Sundays, a day when most New Yorkers were off work and looking to unwind.
Clever bar owners exploited a loophole by offering a sandwich with drinks, which they would then take back and serve to the next patron, with some sandwiches reportedly lasting the entire day.
These notorious sandwiches, sometimes made with inedible fillers like rubber or even a brick between two slices of bread, became a symbol of the law's failure to regulate alcohol effectively.
The Raines law also inadvertently spurred the proliferation of so-called "Raines law hotels," where rooms were often used for illicit activities, including prostitution.
Despite its intentions, the Raines law ultimately led to more social issues and was repealed in nineteen twenty-three, but not before it had left a lasting mark on New York City's culture and history.
Even today, the Raines law is remembered, with establishments like the Raines Law Room in New York City paying homage to this peculiar chapter in the city's past.
