- Bartenders and others in the food industry are among the hardest hit by the novel coronavirus fallout.
- Governors of multiple states across the US have asked bars and restaurants to operate for take-out only, under reduced hours, or close altogether.
- Here's a look at how bartending has changed in the last 150 years, including during the Prohibition era and World War II, as well as a look at the sector's uncertain future.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
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More than 100 years after the 18th Amendment banned the sale of alcohol in the US — paving a way for the country's Prohibition era — working at bars looks completely different.
What was once considered a seedy profession due to its association with alcohol, bartending now requires technical training, and depending on where you work, years of experience. The profession has grown tremendously over the past several years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 644,100 bartenders working in the US in 2018. That number is forecasted to grow faster than most jobs, rising 8% between 2018 and 2028.
Unfortunately, the job has been one of the hardest hit by mass layoffs in the wake of the novel coronavirus. As governors from New York to California call for the closing or reduced hours of non-essential businesses, many restaurants and bars have been asked to close their doors, or be open only to provide take-out services. It's hit the industry hard, with many iconic institutions shutting down, and countless others — along with their employees — facing an uncertain future.
Here's a look at how being a bartender has changed in the last 150 years.
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