Even though her Las Vegas district is filled with “liquor, gambling and loose women,” which could give any member of Congress a hangover, Rep. Shelley Berkley‘s a big fan of the liquor lobby and its message to sip responsibly.
“I want everyone to drink, eat and gamble in excess,” the Nevada Democrat told Yeas & Nays. “But what I don’t want is them to do is get hurt doing it.”
Berkley was among those toasted Wednesday night and inducted into the George Washington Spirits Society by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. She cheered on the industry to more than 600 guests at Mount Vernon, including Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and a handful of House members.
“This industry is a very big part of the district that I represent, we have almost 40 million visitors a year to Las Vegas, and we want everyone to have a good time and enjoy our wholesome family entertainment,” she laughed. “But what I admire about this industry is the way you have taken the lead in ensuring that our fellow citizens enjoy their libations, but they drink responsibly,” she added.
And because Berkley had to give the big speech she decided to be responsible too — by drinking water.
“I’ve got to make sure I’m capable,” she said.
