Legal Definitions - blind pig

A blind pig is a historical term used to describe an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. This term gained significant popularity during the Prohibition Era in the United States (1920-1933), when the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol were outlawed nationwide. It is often used interchangeably with "speakeasy" or "blind tiger." Essentially, a blind pig was a clandestine venue where individuals could secretly purchase and consume alcohol, circumventing the law.

• Example 1 (Prohibition Era): During the 1920s, a seemingly ordinary barber shop in a bustling city might have had a secret backroom accessible only to trusted patrons. After a haircut, a customer could be led through a hidden door to a dimly lit space where bootlegged whiskey and gin were served in teacups, operating as a "blind pig" to avoid detection by law enforcement.

  Explanation: This illustrates a blind pig as a hidden establishment during Prohibition, illegally selling alcohol under the guise of a legitimate business to evade the nationwide ban.

• Example 2 (Modern, unlicensed operation): In a contemporary town, a local entrepreneur decides to open a small, private club in a rented warehouse, serving beer and wine to members without obtaining the necessary state liquor license or local permits. Despite alcohol being legal in the state, the unauthorized sale of beverages makes this establishment, in essence, a modern-day "blind pig," operating outside the bounds of licensing regulations.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates that while the term originated during total prohibition, its essence—an illegal place selling intoxicants—can apply to any establishment operating without the required licenses or permits, even if alcohol itself is not entirely prohibited in that jurisdiction.

• Example 3 (Dry County/Restricted Area): Imagine a rural county in the present day where local ordinances prohibit the sale of alcohol (a "dry county"). A resident, wanting to capitalize on the demand, starts hosting invite-only gatherings in their barn, charging for homemade spirits and beer. This clandestine operation, selling alcohol where it is legally restricted, functions as a "blind pig" within that specific jurisdiction.

  Explanation: This scenario highlights how a "blind pig" can exist even in areas with localized alcohol restrictions, where an establishment illegally sells intoxicants in defiance of specific local laws, even if alcohol is legal elsewhere in the state.