On this day in 1942 a coffee ban was lifted across the U.S. A shortage of ships during this phase of WWII caused the restriction. Hills Brother’s Coffee published the following “infommercial” in the Modesto Bee And News-Herald (California, 1942-11-30) to inform readers about the changes:
All last week grocers were not allowed to sell coffee to consumers. So you couldn’t buy any. But the “freeze” is over, and since midnight, November 28, you have been able to take War Ration Book One - up to now just your “Sugar Book” - to the grocery store and buy coffee again.
Stampe No. 27 in the “Sugar Book” (lower left-hand corner) is good for one pound of coffee through Sunday, January 3, 1943, if the age shown at time of registration was 15 years or over. Any person not having a “Sugar Book” may still obtain one by registering (prior to December 15, 1942) with his local War Price and Ration Board and, subject to age limit, the stamps will be good for coffee, too.
Ration stampes for coffee must be detached by the grocer or his authorized delivery man because of the age limit. Stamps authorized for coffee must not be detached from a book “under age limit,” as these stamps will have to be accounted for when the time comes to renew the “Sugar Book.”
Wartime problems of production and distribution make it impossible to have enough coffee everywhere at the same time to fill all demands immediately. So spread your stamps out. If you have a number of “coffee stamps” in the family, we suggest you buy several times in the next few weeks instead of all at once. And if you have enough coffee on hand to last a while, don’t rush down to the store to get your “ration.” Let your less fortunate neighbors have a chance to get their coffee first. Stamp No. 27 is good through January 3, 1943.
On the other hand, if it happens that limited transportation faciliites - living in the country, for instance - make buying in the specified quantities a hardship, we understand that you may apply to your local War Price and Ration Board for a certificate enabling you to buy up to five pounds of coffee at a time. (The equivalent number of stamps will be removed from your book to cover the “advance” ration.)
If there should be any change in the basis or method of coffee rationing, it will be publicly announced and your grocer will also know. You can count on him to keep you properly informed.
The quantity of coffee obtainable by anyone under Rationing Regulations at the time this goes to press will represent a greater redaction for many people than it will for others. But let’s look at rationing…for coffee or any other commodity…in a sensible and reasonable manner. Rationing is a wartime measure made necessary, in the case of coffee, by interruptions in supply that have resulted from a shortage of ships…aggravated by unuusal consumer buying in the past few months. And even if it serves no other purpose, rationing is a means by which everyone will be able to get his share of the coffee that is available.
It is hoped that many of the recent uncertainties of supply and demand that have existed across the Nation with respect to coffee will become adjusted through the functioning of coffee rationing. And let us hope, too, that as time goes on more ships will be available to bring in the supplies of green coffee that are awaiting shipment from our neighboring countries in the South and Central Americas. Statements by Government authorities have indicated a desire to increase the allowance of coffee under the rationing system just as soon as conditions will permit - perhaps even eliminate it entirely. When that happens…wholly or even in part…the coffeepot will indeed have a new “silver lining.”
Posted by beanybabe at 10:50 PM PST
