Life — April 6, 1916 — page 21: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a bird's-eye view cartoon satirizing urban nightlife and the effects of alcohol during Prohibition era America. The image shows a dramatically foreshortened view looking down at a city street, with tall buildings flanking both sides and a motorcycle or car speeding recklessly through the center. The title "That Second Cocktail" suggests the cartoon mocks how alcohol impairs judgment and coordination—the driver appears to be operating the vehicle dangerously after consuming drinks. The exaggerated perspective emphasizes the dizzying, disorienting sensation of intoxication. This was a common Life magazine satirical theme: critiquing Americans' drinking habits and the dangers of the illegal alcohol trade during Prohibition (1920-1933).