National Dive Bar Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Dive Bar

On July 7, we celebrate National Dive Bar Day, which honours the formidable American institution known as the dive bar. Seagram’s, which is now owned by Diageo, was established on this date to honour dive taverns. They claim that they selected the seventh day of the seventh month for the special dive bar cocktail, the 7&7, which is composed of Seagram’s Seven Crown and 7-Up.

The background of National Dive Bar Day

A lengthy history exists for the dive bar. In order for a bar to be labelled a “dive bar,” it must have been around for a long time and witnessed a lot over the years. Dive bars may have been taverns, mom-and-pop stores, roadhouses, speakeasies, inns or saloons in their previous incarnations. As circumstances altered, so did their clientele and capacity to care for the establishment.

How did so many cellar bars become established? Prohibition halted the production, distribution, and transportation of alcohol, resulting in the proliferation of illicit drinking establishments across the United States. The repeal of this law put an end to the thriving illicit drinking industry, but by the 1970s, its popularity was on the rise again.

Author/poet Charles Bukowski’s semi-autobiographical novel “Barfly,” hailed as the definitive ‘dive bar’ story even today, is credited by many for bringing dive bars to the cultural forefront. Except for a few instances, such as the Prohibition and the beatnik era, subterranean bars have never been a part of popular culture. “Barfly” and “Blue Velvet” by David Lynch, as well as references in pulp novels and noir thrillers, elevated the lowly cellar bar. It became ‘cool’ to celebrate degenerate culture. Even though these establishments were brand-new, numerous bars adopted the term “dive” at the end of the 1980s.

The term ‘dive’ refers to the location of the bar’s entrance. Many kitchens began using gas or coal ovens as opposed to the larger wood-fired ovens, resulting in the creation of additional space beneath existing restaurants. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the reason we use ‘dive’ to describe a ‘drinking den’ is because such establishments were in cellars or dungeons where people could enter without being observed by others.

Similar to dive bars, the status of Seagram’s association with this day has changed. By establishing this day, they have embraced this shift and given people a reason to celebrate dive bars and their drinks. Additionally, the company intends to aid in the preservation of dive bars by supporting the National Trust for Historic Preservation in a number of initiatives.

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5 INDICATIONS YOU ARE IN A DIVE BAR

The illumination in dive bars is either reminiscent of a Christmas tree or is minimal.

Multiple owners, bizarre patrons, and even political ups and downs are all things that a genuine dive bar has experienced.

There’s a good chance you’ll emerge from the restroom of a dive bar with intimate knowledge of a stranger’s love life and random philosophical musings plastered on the walls.

Dive bars don’t attempt to be dive bars; they just are, and this is typically the result of many years spent performing the same task.

Similar to the ‘Cheers’ theme song, a decent dive bar attracts regulars who will learn your name (or, you know, face) as you become a regular yourself.

NATIONAL DIVE BAR DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	July 7	Friday
2024	July 7	Sunday
2025	July 7	Monday
2026	July 7	Tuesday
2027	July 7	Wednesday