Judge — January 20, 1917 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon satirizes Prohibition-era hypocrisy at an upscale country club in Asheville, North Carolina. The joke plays on a double meaning: "hit 'em" refers both to Mr. Tipple's golf drive and to his ability to consume highballs (cocktails) despite state alcohol restrictions. The cartoon suggests that wealthy club members could circumvent Prohibition laws that applied to ordinary citizens. "Mr. Tipple" (a name implying habitual drinking) apparently continues consuming alcohol openly at the exclusive venue, mocking the enforcement of Prohibition restrictions. The well-dressed figures and country club setting emphasize class privilege—the affluent could maintain their drinking habits while legal restrictions supposedly applied universally. This critiques both the ineffectiveness of Prohibition and the special treatment afforded to the wealthy.