BRIDGEWATER – Four score and seven years ago, Prohibition ended in the United States and once again Americans could buy alcoholic beverages without the fear of being thrown into the hoosgow.

To quench the thirst of Drys frustrated that their efforts to keep Americans on the straight-and-narrow path of abstinence were thwarted, municipalities throughout the U.S. enacted ordinances regulating the sale of alcohol within their borders, adding conditions to satisfy those who opposed the repeal.

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On Thursday, the township council voted to repeal part of Bridgewater's alcoholic beverage ordinance dating back to the repeal of the 18th Amendment that declared "no sales of alcoholic beverages for consumption on licensed premises shall be made on credit."

That seemingly outlaws the use of a credit card when buying drinks at a bar or restaurant, conceivably making generations of township residents into unwitting criminals.

Township Attorney Chris Corsini told the council he doesn't know if the law was ever enforced because the ordinance doesn't have any penalty provisions.

The council also repealed the part of the ordinance that prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages to any "mental defective or habitual drunkard."

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.