WHAT IS A SCREECH-IN?:

A “ Screech-In” is a ceremony we perform at our pub for people who visit our province from other parts of Canada and from all corners of the world. It is our way of welcoming you to our province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Newfoundlanders are well known for our friendliness and hospitality and a "Screech-In" is a testament of this. So if you are visiting be sure to drop by for an experience you will never forget. To date, there has been over 54,000 people Screeched-In at Trapper John’s with the number growing on a daily basis. Our "Screech-In" ceremony has been featured on many television stations including CBC, ABC, the BBC any many more. Even celebrities such as Guy Lafleur have been "Screeched-In".

SCREECH-IN HISTORY:

Long before any liquor board was created to take alcohol under its benevolent wing, Demerara rum was a mainstay of the Newfoundland diet, with salt fish traded to the West Indies in exchange for rum. When the Government took control of the traditional liquor business in the early 20th century, it began selling the rum in an unlabelled bottle. The product might have remained permanently nameless except for the influx of American servicemen to the Island during World War II. As the story goes, the commanding officer of the original detachment was having his first taste of Newfoundland hospitality and, imitating the custom of his host, downed his drink in one gulp. The American’s blood-curdling howl, when he regained his breath, brought the sympathetic and curious from miles around rushing to the house to find out what was going on. The first to arrive was a garrulous old American sergeant who pounded on the door and demanded, "What the cripes was that ungodly screech?" The taciturn Newfoundlander who had answered the door replied simply, "The Screech? ‘Tis the rum, me son." Thus was born a legend. As word of the incident spread, the soldiers, determined to try this mysterious "Screech" and finding its effects as devastating as the name implies, adopted it as their favourite. The opportunistic liquor board pounced on the name and reputation and began labeling Newfoundland Screech, nowadays they use Jamaican rum.

WHEN CAN I GET SCREECHED-IN?:

We do Screech-Ins Sunday - Thursday anytime of day or night. Friday & Saturdays we stop at 10:00 p.m. due to Live Entertainment and usually the bar is too full to do a Screech-In properly.