Dont drink and Drive!

[Frenchy]

But did you know, Alcohol and gun powder have a common history? There was a time when the inn keeper would ask for “Proof” of alcohol before he purchased whiskey or “spirits”. This proof was done with black powder and the still owner would perform this in the inn at a place called the “bar”.

The “Shot” was a mixture of black powder and Whiskey, if when ignited the “Shot” Flashed, the whiskey was said to be proofed, if the alcohol burned slow, or there was no ignition, it did not pass.

Some of the terms like “Shot” glass, “Bar” are directly related to the use of gun powder.

How was whisky tested by gun powder for proof strength?

Spirit of proof strength was the technical standard by which strength was measured until 1st January, 1980. Hundreds of years ago, spirit of this strength was proved when whisky and gunpowder were mixed and ignited. If the gunpowder flashed, then there was enough whisky in the mixture to permit ignition. Such whisky was held to have been proved. If the spirit was weaker than this proof strength ignition did not take place.

So next time you get told by some one that drinking and shooting don’t go well together, you will have this little bit of history! Mind you you should not use drugs or Alcohol while using a gun, we all kow your motor skills will be reduced, but its nice to know that if some one spills good whiskey on your bullets, they should still fire

[LorDiego01]

I had once heard, that the reason we call a drinking shot a "shot", is because back in day the price for a shot of alcohol was equal to the price of a single round of ammo.

So people would pay the bar tab with ammunition, and thats why today we order for one more "shot" of tequila!

[Joe Demko]

Minor quibble: The gunpowder needed only to burn with a steady flame for the alcohol content to have been proven. A flash would have classed the alcohol as "over proof."