New York town lifts prohibition

The town of Neversink in New York has lifted prohibition and legalised alcohol sales for the first time in 80 years.

As of local elections in November, drinking alcohol in the town of Neversink – which had a population of just 3,557 at the 2010 census – is legal again.

The first person to have a drink was Kenny Curry, whose father is thought to be one of the last to order a drink at a bar in Neversink.

He was served a bottle of Trout Town Eagle IPA at the Eureka Market & Cafe, one of the first places to get an alcohol license.

As he took his first sip, around 20 supporters reportedly cheered and applauded.

Neversink voted to outlaw booze in 1935, after a man was killed stumbling out of a local saloon into the street, and since then residents have voted to uphold the ban three times.

The vote to legalise the selling of alcohol in restaurants and convenience store was a tight one – the provision only passed after absentee votes were counted.

Prohibition in most US states lasted from 1920 to 1933.