June 8 National Name Your Poison Day #NameYourPoisonDay

Name Your Poison Day is celebrated annually on June 8. While “name your poison” is an expression used to describe your drink of choice, it also refers to making the least bad decision. There are many instances in life when we have to choose the lesser of the two or more evils. National Name Your Poison Day celebrates our ability to choose the ‘poison’ or make a decision that will be the least harmful of all the available options.

HISTORY OF NAME YOUR POISON DAY

The word ‘poison’ has been used as slang for alcoholic drinks since the mid-19th century. It may have come from the Latin root ‘toxicum’ (poison) of the word ‘intoxicate.’ It can also refer to the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption. This is where phrases like “name your poison”, “pick your poison” and “what’s your poison?” came from.

The mid-1800s also saw mountaineers of central Austria form the habit of drinking arsenic preparations once or twice every week as a general tonic or stimulant. They came to be known as “arsenic eaters.” Some of them even developed the reputation of having built up a high tolerance in case their enemies tried to poison them.

The March 24, 1864, edition of the “Daily National Republican” newspaper in Washington, D.C., reported that the phrase, “Please nominate your poison, gentlemen,” was the latest way of asking what drink men would like to have. The story made its way to newspapers across America and, by 1867, many writers were using the colloquial term.

While the phrase “nominate your poison” goes back to the early temperance-movement days, it mostly refers to the action of placing an order for a drink. In 1914, when the mayor of Ohio passed the law requiring all those who drink to apply for drinking licenses, the phrase became a lot more popular.

The alternative meaning of the phrase, i.e. “making the least bad choice,” has more recently become popularized. The most probable reason for this is because it not only limits the phrase to drinkers but can be used in other contexts. Why? Because it sounds cool, right?

HOW TO CELEBRATE NAME YOUR POISON DAY

Indulge in all things ‘Poison’A good way to celebrate National Name Your Poison Day is to listen to the ’80s metal band Poison. You can also watch movies like “Poison,” and “Arsenic and Old Lace.” You can also read books about the history of alcohol.
Have a drinkGo to the bar and “pick your poison.” Or you can also let go of your diet regime for the day, go to a restaurant, and order your favorite cheat meal (aka, your poison).
Enjoy it with family and friendsInvite your family and friends and drink your favorite ‘poisons’ together. We should all have a drink with our closest people from time to time, after all.

5 FACTS ABOUT POISON THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND

Poison driverIn 1921, a chauffeur was the top-reported job in California for people named ‘Poison.’
Name your poison frogThe golden poison dart frog is the most poisonous frog in the world and one gram of its secretion can kill 1,000 adult humans.
A poisonous reliefPainkillers are the most common substances that poison adults above the age of 20.
Poison for dinnerDinnertime is the most common time for childhood poisonings — to the extent that poison-control centers refer to dinnertime as “the arsenic hour.”
Poison overdoseIn America, the majority of poisonings are caused due to drug overdose.

WHY WE LOVE NAME YOUR POISON DAY

A break out of our comfort zoneOn National Name Your Poison Day, we step out of our comfort zones and celebrate what we want to drink and not what we should drink. We get to enjoy the diversity of drinks as we can “pick any poison of our choice” in celebration.
Spending time with friendsNational Pick Your Poison Day brings the opportunity to raise a toast to our favorite “poisons” or drinks with our friends. It is a great way to break the routine and trying out a new bar or new drinks.
Celebrates bad decisionsWe always celebrate when we find out that we made the right decision. National Pick Your Poison Day celebrates the bad decisions we have all made and the fact that we survived the consequences.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates