When you think of iconic American drinks, things like bourbon, Coca-Cola, and coffee might come to mind. But did you know that 28 U.S. states have gone further and designated official state beverages? The stories behind some of these choices are fascinating.
Milk Reigns Supreme
Of the states that have named an official drink, a whopping 20 have honored milk. This dairy domination is not just a matter of taste, but also a result of the powerful milk lobby, which pushed many state legislatures to choose milk in the 1980s. This underscores the political and economic factors that influence such decisions.
At the time, the U.S. government was dealing with a vast milk surplus costing $2 billion annually. In response, the United Dairy Industry Association worked with the USDA to campaign for greater milk consumption. This resulted in the famous “Got Milk?” ads and a drive to make milk the official American drink.
Interestingly, some of the biggest milk-producing states, like California and Wisconsin, don’t list milk as their state beverage. The top milk-naming states include many you might not expect, like Louisiana, North Carolina, and New York. South Carolina named milk its official drink in 1984. However, some residents later questioned the choice since the state produces relatively little milk compared to other agricultural products.
Unique Local Flavors
Not every state bowed to Big Dairy’s pressure. A few chose beverages more reflective of their local crops, culture, and history:
- Florida picked orange juice in 1967, celebrating its iconic citrus industry.
- Maine made Moxie, a bitter soda invented in 1876, its official drink in 2005.
- Massachusetts honored its cranberry bogs by naming cranberry juice in 1970.
- Nebraska, the birthplace of Kool-Aid, made the sugary drink its state soft drink in 1998 to go along with milk.
- New Hampshire opted for apple cider in 2010, nodding to its many orchards.
- Ohio was the very first to name an official beverage in 1965, going with tomato juice since it was one of the top tomato-growing states at the time.
- South Carolina later added its signature tea, grown in-state, as the official “State Hospitality Beverage” alongside milk.
Spirited Selections
A handful of states have even designated official state spirits despite some public controversy:
- Alabama named Conecuh Ridge Whiskey, distilled in the state, as its spirit in 2004.
- Indiana and Oregon attempted to name water their official beverage, but the idea was mocked, and the bills failed.
- In 2013, Kentucky added its own Ale-8-One craft soda as the official state drink to go with milk.
- Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, sensibly made the piña colada its drink in 1978 since the cocktail was invented there.
- Virginia honored its early distilling history by naming George Washington’s Rye Whiskey, made in a reconstructed version of the Founding Father’s distillery, as its state spirit in 2017.
The Dairy Dissenters
Not everyone has embraced milk’s reign as the top state beverage. In 1998, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine lobbied against milk being named the official drink in several states, sparking a heated debate about health and industry influence.
Other states’ milk choices have faced challenges, too. After South Carolina’s 1984 milk bill, some residents pushed for tea to be named the top drink instead since the state grew it. In 2017, a Kentucky retailer petitioned for bourbon to replace milk since the state produces far more whiskey than dairy.
An Enduring Tradition
Despite some debates, the practice of states adopting official drinks, especially milk, has endured. For legislatures, it’s a way to honor significant industries, promote local products, and provide some levity to their sessions. The state seals of approval have provided a wholesome image boost for the dairy sector, even if other regional drinks are better known.
As for the most recent state to join the beverage battle? In 2019, Arizona made lemonade its official state drink thanks to a group of persuasive elementary school students. I love this lemonade example a lot because it highlights how the public can influence state decisions, even when it comes to something as seemingly trivial as a state beverage.
Featured image from: OpenAI’s DALL-E 2
Originally posted on Tamara McCleary’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sips-state-tales-behind-americas-official-beverages-tamara-mccleary-tmtse
