November 29, 1942, Coffee rationing begins in the US
64 years ago, on this day in 1942, coffee joins the list of items rationed in the United States. Despite record coffee production in Latin American countries, the growing demand for the bean from both military and civilian sources, and the demands placed on shipping which was needed for other purposes, required the limiting of its availability.
Typically, American families were limited to one pound of ground coffee per week during the rationing period.
Scarcity or shortages were rarely the reason for rationing during the war. Rationing was generally employed for two reasons: (1) to guarantee a fair distribution of resources and foodstuffs to all citizens; and (2) to give priority to military use for certain raw materials, given the present emergency.
Beef, pork, mutton and fish were rationed, but not horsemeat. Businesses began to pop up that specialized in Seabiscuit Sirloin.
At first, limiting the use of certain products was voluntary. For example, President Roosevelt launched "scrap drives" to scare up throwaway old rubber garden hoses, tires, bathing caps, etc.. This scrap rubber was important in light of the Japanese capture of the Dutch East Indies, a source of rubber for the United States. Collections were then redeemed at gas stations for a penny a pound. Patriotism and the desire to aid the war effort were enough in the early days of the war.
Even little kids got into the rationing act. Back then, it wasn't unusual to send your kids a few blocks to the neighborhood store to buy stuff needed around the house. He therefore needed to be reponsible enough to know how to use the ration book -- and NOT lose it.
But as U.S. shipping, including oil tankers, became increasingly vulnerable to Nazi Kriegsmarine U-boat attacks, gasoline became the first resource to be rationed. Starting in May 1942, in 17 eastern states, car owners were restricted to three gallons of gas a week.
By the end of 1942, gas rationing in effect nationwide. Half of the nation's automobiles were issued an "A" sticker, allowing four gallons per week. You stuck it on the inside of your windshield, sorta like those old safety inspection stickers we used to have. It told the gas station attendant how much gas you were authorized of course, but you had to give her your ration book so she could tear out your coupon for that week.
No coupon, no gas, regardless of the sticker on the windshield. Yep, female gas station attendants were quite common because Goober and Gomer had been drafted or volunteered.
By the way, the "A" sticker did another thing. "A" sticker cars were not supposed to be used for pleasure trips. If people noticed a guy with an "A" sticker just cruising around, he'd probably get yelled at by somebody.
Tires were harder to get than gas. Most people had to make do with one set during most of the war...and this was back in the day when a tire was just an air-filled ruber balloon -- no steel belts, no special additives to make it last longer. You could get around 15K miles out of a new set of tires.
The other half of automobiles had either a "B" sticker -- supplementary allowance for war workers.
or a "C" sticker (vital occupation such as doctor -- docs got more gas because back then, many doctors went to patients homes to treat them AKA "houscalls" ). Truckers had a "T" sticker for unlimited amounts.
A black market developed in stolen or counterfeit stickers that were used in 5-30% of gasoline sales. By 1945, there were 32,500 motorists arrested for using such false stickers, 1300 convictions, 4000 gas stations closed.
Butter was another item rationed, as supplies were reserved for military breakfasts. Along with coffee, the sugar and milk that went with it were also limited.
During the war, American families were typically allowed 5 pounds of sugar per week -- for all purposes. That may seem like a lot to modern Americans, but remember, there were no artificial sweeteners back then and just about everything folks ate or drank required at least a little sugar.
All together, about one-third of all food commonly consumed by civilians was rationed at one time or another during the war. The black market, an underground source of rationed goods at prices higher than the ceilings set by the Office of Price Administration, was a supply source for those Americans with the disposable incomes needed to pay the inflated prices.
Some items came off the rationing list early; coffee was released as early as July 1943, but sugar was rationed until June 1947.
So enjoy your coffee. Drink up, there's no limit!
