In the United States, the three-martini lunch or noontime three-martini is a leisurely, indulgent lunch enjoyed by businesspeople or lawyers.[1] It is named from the common belief that many people in the above-mentioned professions have enough leisure time and wherewithal to consume more than one martini during the work day. The 3-martini lunch became particularly identified in popular culture with Madison Avenue advertising executives in the 1960s and 1970s, who supposedly became more creative after such lunchtime libations.[2]
The three-martini lunch is no longer common practice for several reasons, including the implementation of "fitness for duty" programs by numerous companies, the decreased tolerance of alcohol use,[4] a general decrease in available leisure time for business executives[5] and an increase in the size of the martini.[6]
President John F. Kennedy called for a crackdown on such tax breaks in 1961, but nothing was done at the time.[7]Jimmy Carter condemned the practice during the 1976 presidential campaign.[6] Carter portrayed it as part of the unfairness in the nation's tax laws, claiming that the working class was subsidizing the "$50 martini lunch".[8] A "rich businessman" could write off this type of lunch as a business expense, thereby reducing the cost by his effective tax rate. His opponent, Gerald Ford, in a 1978 speech to the National Restaurant Association, responded with: "The three-martini lunch is the epitome of American efficiency. Where else can you get an earful, a bellyful and a snootful at the same time?"[6][9][10]
Recent timesedit
It was once popular in Washington, D.C., but has declined since the early 1990s.[11] The practice has also been affected by changing views on alcohol consumption, while others have chosen to go with new drinks like the vodka martini and Cosmopolitan.[12] The cost of some drinks has increased three times faster than the inflation rate.[13]
The entertainment deduction, which includes meals, was reduced to 80 percent in 1987[14] and to 50 percent in 1994.[15]
Comedian George Carlin once commented that the crackdown on the three-martini lunch "shouldn't affect the working man's two-jointcoffee break".[16]
^"Lunch with a twist: one writer asks what became of the noontime three-martini extravaganza-and discovers what happens when you try it". June 1, 2010.
^Edwards, Jim (August 2, 2010). "Will a 3-Martini Lunch Make You More Creative at Work?". CBS News. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
^""Three-martini lunch" tax break draws outrage. It also may fall short for restaurants". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
^Sorich, Sonya (October 26, 2006). . Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007. Internet Archive; URL last accessed June 4, 2010).
^Drummond, Mike (March 14, 2005). "What Ever Happened to the 3 Martini Lunch?". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved October 30, 2006.
^ abcKuntzman, Gersh, "Martinis for Victory!", Newsweek, October 22, 2006 (URL last accessed March 13, 2008). March 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
^Jonathan Gruber (December 21, 2004). Public Finance and Public Policy. Macmillan. p. 500.
^Stratton, Jeremy (January 2, 2006). . Downtown Journal. Minneapolis-St. Paul. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
^Gray, W. Blake (December 2, 2004). "Trends change but the martini is always cool". San Francisco Chronicle.
^Andrew F. Smith (May 1, 2007). The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. Oxford University Press. p. 367.
^. April 2, 2002. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018.(subscription required)
^. July 16, 2006. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018.(subscription required)
^. December 1, 2005. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018.(subscription required)
^"CHANGES IN TAX LAWS DILUTE THE THREE-MARTINI LUNCH". July 4, 1988.[dead link](subscription required)
^Alison Mitchell (July 24, 1999). "House Puts 'Three-Martini Lunch' Tax Break Back on the Table". The New York Times. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
^Donnelly, Laura (January 24, 2012). . The East Hampton Star. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016.
April 23, 2024
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In the United States the three martini lunch or noontime three martini is a leisurely indulgent lunch enjoyed by businesspeople or lawyers 1 It is named from the common belief that many people in the above mentioned professions have enough leisure time and wherewithal to consume more than one martini during the work day The 3 martini lunch became particularly identified in popular culture with Madison Avenue advertising executives in the 1960s and 1970s who supposedly became more creative after such lunchtime libations 2 Three martinis with olives as a garnish A martini gin vermouth olive The term is sometimes used in political debates on tax deductibility of business meals in the United States 3 Contents 1 Decline 2 Recent times 3 See also 4 ReferencesDecline editThe three martini lunch is no longer common practice for several reasons including the implementation of fitness for duty programs by numerous companies the decreased tolerance of alcohol use 4 a general decrease in available leisure time for business executives 5 and an increase in the size of the martini 6 President John F Kennedy called for a crackdown on such tax breaks in 1961 but nothing was done at the time 7 Jimmy Carter condemned the practice during the 1976 presidential campaign 6 Carter portrayed it as part of the unfairness in the nation s tax laws claiming that the working class was subsidizing the 50 martini lunch 8 A rich businessman could write off this type of lunch as a business expense thereby reducing the cost by his effective tax rate His opponent Gerald Ford in a 1978 speech to the National Restaurant Association responded with The three martini lunch is the epitome of American efficiency Where else can you get an earful a bellyful and a snootful at the same time 6 9 10 Recent times editIt was once popular in Washington D C but has declined since the early 1990s 11 The practice has also been affected by changing views on alcohol consumption while others have chosen to go with new drinks like the vodka martini and Cosmopolitan 12 The cost of some drinks has increased three times faster than the inflation rate 13 The entertainment deduction which includes meals was reduced to 80 percent in 1987 14 and to 50 percent in 1994 15 Comedian George Carlin once commented that the crackdown on the three martini lunch shouldn t affect the working man s two joint coffee break 16 See also editList of cocktails nbsp Society portal nbsp Drink portal nbsp Food portal nbsp Liquor portalReferences edit Lunch with a twist one writer asks what became of the noontime three martini extravaganza and discovers what happens when you try it June 1 2010 Edwards Jim August 2 2010 Will a 3 Martini Lunch Make You More Creative at Work CBS News Retrieved November 9 2019 Three martini lunch tax break draws outrage It also may fall short for restaurants www cbsnews com Retrieved December 22 2020 Sorich Sonya October 26 2006 Business drinkers walk fine line Columbus Ledger Enquirer Archived from the original on February 6 2007 Internet Archive URL last accessed June 4 2010 Drummond Mike March 14 2005 What Ever Happened to the 3 Martini Lunch The Charlotte Observer Retrieved October 30 2006 a b c Kuntzman Gersh Martinis for Victory Newsweek October 22 2006 URL last accessed March 13 2008 Archived March 5 2009 at the Wayback Machine Jonathan Gruber December 21 2004 Public Finance and Public Policy Macmillan p 500 Stratton Jeremy January 2 2006 The decline of the three martini lunch Downtown Journal Minneapolis St Paul Archived from the original on October 3 2015 Retrieved October 1 2015 Gray W Blake December 2 2004 Trends change but the martini is always cool San Francisco Chronicle Andrew F Smith May 1 2007 The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink Oxford University Press p 367 The Three Martini Lunch It Used to Happen April 2 2002 Archived from the original on August 24 2018 subscription required A new twist on the three martini lunch Times have changed and so have attitudes toward drinking and then going back to work July 16 2006 Archived from the original on August 24 2018 subscription required Nowadays a three martini lunch puts you in the poor house News December 1 2005 Archived from the original on August 24 2018 subscription required CHANGES IN TAX LAWS DILUTE THE THREE MARTINI LUNCH July 4 1988 dead link subscription required Alison Mitchell July 24 1999 House Puts Three Martini Lunch Tax Break Back on the Table The New York Times Retrieved March 14 2016 Donnelly Laura January 24 2012 Seasons by the Sea South Fork Power Lunch The East Hampton Star Archived from the original on December 21 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Three martini lunch amp oldid 1213128689, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
