Why Is This Tennessee State Rep. Chugging Hershey’s Syrup?

Politicians are just like us. They get drunk and rage at children during a slumber party. They try to escape an arrest for drunk driving by taping a handcuff key to their foot. And while in session, they take swigs from a Hershey’s syrup bottle. Such is the case with Tennessee State Rep. Kent Calfee (R- Kingston), who regularly brings his Hershey’s bottle with him to work. Calfee went viral after images of him drinking from the syrup bottle during Gov. Bill Lee’s second State of the State address hit the internet. Naturally, we have questions. Is Calfee drinking Hershey’s syrup straight from the bottle? Is he chasing it with milk? What would possess someone who isn’t Augustus Gloop to do this?

Luckily for us, The Tennessean investigated Calfee’s quirky beverage preferences, and what they found is a case of classic grandpa behavior. Calfee told the local paper, “It’s a repurposed syrup bottle that I drink my water out of, … I’m not going to buy a $25 or $35 or $45 water bottle that’s not worth what it costs because I’ll probably put it down and leave it somewhere.” Calfee added that he and his wife, Marilyn, “recycle everything.” He continued, “I was fixing to put it in the plastic recycling one day at home, and I thought, shoot, I can put water in that.”

Calfee, who has been sober since 1978, says he’s been reusing the Hershey’s bottle ever since. “I don’t know that I’ve ever drank chocolate syrup,” Calfee said. He added that he does enjoy taking a spoonful of Nesquik and washing it down with milk, a life hack he’s passed along to his many grandchildren. Still, we can’t deny that seeing anyone, let alone an elected official, taking swigs from a Hershey’s syrup bottle is in fact hilarious. Many folks took to social media to joke about Calfee’s syrup water bottle.

(via The Tennessean, image: screencap)

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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