Reasons4beerA reason to have a beer.

The previous excuses

A little history.
Still worth a toast.

Every reason revealed so far. Select a date, read the story, raise whatever you fancy.

November 2026

  1. Carl Sagan’s birthdayRather a large subject.
  2. Edmond Halley’s birthdaySee you next time.
  3. Marie Curie’s birthdayOne Nobel was insufficient.
  4. Rutgers and Princeton’s first football matchA fixture in the calendar.
  5. Susan B. Anthony casts her ballotA ballot with consequences.
  6. The first step to Tutankhamun’s tombMind the step.
  7. Dewey Defeats Truman: the wrong headlineA confident first draft.
  8. The first resident ISS crewThe upstairs neighbours.
  9. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceilingThe ceiling is finished.

October 2026

  1. Luther’s Ninety-five ThesesA few small points.
  2. The War of the Worlds radio broadcastReports of reports.
  3. ARPANET’s first messageA promising start.
  4. The Statue of Liberty is dedicatedJust a little something.
  5. DuPont announces nylonA small snag.
  6. The Football Association is foundedThat settles it.
  7. Florence Foster Jenkins at Carnegie HallWith considerable feeling.
  8. Annie Edson Taylor’s Niagara barrel rideMany happy returns.
  9. Apple unveils the first iPodAn abundance of choice.
  10. Garnerin’s parachute descentAn early exit.
  11. An attempt to levitate the PentagonA modest lift.
  12. Sydney Opera House opensA preliminary estimate.
  13. The first Blockbuster video storeA quiet night in.
  14. The British Broadcasting Company is formedSomething to complain about.
  15. Bobby Fischer’s Game of the CenturyPromising youngster.
  16. Morton demonstrates ether anaesthesiaPlease make yourself unconscious.
  17. The Gregorian calendar skips ten datesTime well saved.
  18. Winnie-the-Pooh is publishedA modest ambition.
  19. Greenwich and the prime meridianNothing to see here.
  20. The royal wedding behind OktoberfestJust a small reception.
  21. Kathryn Sullivan’s spacewalkA little plumbing.
  22. William Lassell discovers TritonA productive sideline.
  23. The Treaty of Bern and international postWish you were here.
  24. Percy Spencer’s microwave cooking patentDinner, accelerated.
  25. The early barcode patentAn item of interest.
  26. The Moulin Rouge opensThe building can wait.
  27. Monty Python’s Flying Circus beginsThis was approved.
  28. Sputnik 1 launchesA brief announcement.
  29. Leiden’s relief and the hutspot legendThe spoils of dinner.
  30. Peanuts makes its newspaper debutGood grief.
  31. Sony launches the CDP-101Please buy it again.

September 2026

  1. The first Boeing 747 rolls outA modest enlargement.
  2. The Metropolitan Police begin patrolsA permanent vacancy.
  3. Fleming’s penicillin discovery anniversaryA useful mess.
  4. Einstein’s mass–energy paperA brief explanation.
  5. The Beatles release Abbey RoadA pedestrian achievement.
  6. Publick Occurrences: a one-issue newspaperA limited edition.
  7. Giffard’s steam-powered airshipA one-way improvement.
  8. The discovery of NeptuneIt adds up.
  9. ITV and Britain’s first TV commercialA word from our sponsor.
  10. The Hobbit is publishedAn unexpected appointment.
  11. Magellan’s expedition sets sailA roundabout route.
  12. The smiley emoticon is proposedFor the avoidance of doubt.
  13. Tiffany & Young opens: a disputed dateJust a few essentials.
  14. Emperor Norton’s proclamationA self-starter.
  15. The Mayflower leaves PlymouthThird time lucky.
  16. Liverpool and Manchester Railway opensA change of pace.
  17. IBM’s RAMAC disk storageRoom for improvement.
  18. Michelangelo begins DavidDress code pending.
  19. Luna 2 launches towards the MoonDelivery confirmed.
  20. Jenny Lind’s American debutAn export of note.
  21. Elias Howe’s sewing machine patentA stitch in time.
  22. A moth in the Harvard Mark IIA hardware problem.
  23. The first roll of Scotch transparent tapeAn elusive beginning.
  24. Farnsworth’s electronic televisionAn engaging programme.
  25. Piggly Wiggly and self-service shoppingSome assembly required.
  26. Voyager 1 launchesA small introduction.
  27. Google is incorporatedThat settles that.
  28. Sweden changes driving sidesEverybody to the right.
  29. Chemical Bank’s cash machineHelp yourself.
  30. Carrington’s solar stormA disturbance outside.

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