subject: The History Of Hip Flasks [print this page] A hip flask is a little object which is designed to fit in a person's trouser pocket that is used to contain some sort of alcoholic beverage. There is usually a contour shape so that the flask so that it will be able to fit against the thigh snugly. The type of beverage that it is usually used to hold is some kind of alcoholic drink, more often than not a spirit, something to warm one up on a cold day. The type of material that hip flasks are now usually made from is stainless steel, often covered with leather or plastic. However, it used to be made of silver, glass, or pewter. Many people who have had it passed down from one generation to another have usually done so because of the expensive material that it is made of, like silver. Many people also collect and sell old / antique hip flasks. Hip flasks are also often given as gifts by businesses, and they are usually personalized with special engravings, such as a meaningful symbol or maybe phrase.
The first portable alcohol container
Hip flasks started out as portable alcohol containers in the 18th century, used commonly among the upper class. They were made from metal due to its durability and in some cases from silver. They also traditionally had elaborate engravings on them. In the 1920s in the USA is when the flask really started making a name for itself. The change that led to this growth in popularity was the ban on alcohol that was put in place during that time. The design of the flask and the ability to easily conceal it is what made people begin to use it a lot more. The illegal possession of alcohol could be hidden from authorities by containing the alcohol in one of these slim and small hip flasks.
Hip flasks very popular with soldiers
The popularity of the hip flask remained even after the alcohol ban had been lifted in 1933. It was one of the staple items for soldiers during the Second World War. People still continue to use hip flasks to this day.
People still use hip flasks to conceal spirits
The ability to conceal alcohol in it is still a big reason for its popularity today. This is because there are still a lot of places in which the drinking of alcohol is banned in public. Like their 1920 counterparts, a lot of people use the hip flask today to conceal their consumption of alcohol in public from the authorities. However, that is not the only reason for its popularity. Hip flasks can also be seen as status symbols and that is one of the several reasons they are still in use today.
