New York Yankee baseball slugger Babe Ruth (1895-1948) was known for his excessive eating and drinking as well as for his home run hitting. Many websites include a quotation where Ruth allegedly justifies his drinking:
 
“Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, ‘It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.”
 
The quotation does not appear in any biography of Babe Ruth. The quote is first attributed to Babe Ruth in 2003—well after Ruth’s death in 1948.
 
The quotation has been cited in print since at least 2002, when it was attributed to its probable correct author—American humorist Jack Handey.
 
 
Wikipedia: Jack Handey
Jack Handey (born 25 February 1949) is an American humorist. He is best known for his Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey, a large body of surrealistic one-liner jokes, as well as his “Fuzzy Memories” and “My Big Thick Novel” shorts. Although many people assume otherwise, Handey is a real person, not a pen name or character.
 
Wikipedia: Babe Ruth
George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948), nicknamed “the Bambino” and “the Sultan of Swat”, was an American baseball player who spent 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) playing for three teams (1914–1935). Known for his hitting brilliance, Ruth set career records in his time for home runs (714, since broken), slugging percentage (.690), runs batted in (RBI) (2,213, since broken), bases on balls (2,062, since broken), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (1.164). Ruth originally entered the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox as a starting pitcher, but after he was sold to the New York Yankees in 1919, he converted to a full-time right fielder. He subsequently became one of the league’s most prolific hitters and with his home run hitting prowess, he helped the Yankees win seven pennants and four World Series titles. Ruth retired in 1935 after a short stint with the Boston Braves, and the following year, he became one of the first five players to be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
       
WannaBeBig Bodybuilding and Weightlifting Forum
Accipiter
04-19-2002 09:34 AM
Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed.Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I said to myself, “It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.” * Jack Handy
     
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Best Simpsons quotes!!
Hydrant
10-08-2002, 10:19 AM
” Beer thoughts….. Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, “It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than to be selfish and worry about my liver.”
Homer
 
Google Groups: misc.writing
Dick Harper
10/16/03
“Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, “It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.”
—Babe Ruth
 
Google Books
Beer, Boxers, Batteries, and Bodily Noises
By Stuart Kantor
Lincoln, NE: iUniverse, Inc.
2004
Pg. 26:
“Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. IfI didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, “It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than to be selfish and worry about my liver.”
 
Pure Rambling
Monday, December 04, 2006
Babe Ruth on beer
Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work, and their dreams would be shattered. I think, “It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true, than be selfish and worry about my liver.”
-George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr. (1895-1948)
posted by SamuRyan at 4:23 PM
 
Google Books
Paws Or It’s a Dog’s Life:
A Tale with Many Wags
By Robert Ayres
Xlibris Corporation (Xlibris.com)
2008
Pg. 125:
Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams.  If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, “It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.” ~Babe Ruth “
 
Google Books 
Excuses for All Occasions:
Alibis, Apologies, and Cop-Outs That Can Get You Out of (or Into) Trouble
By Steven D. Price
New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing
2012
P. ?:
“Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams.  If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, ‘It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.’” ~Babe Ruth “
 
The LewRockwell.com Blog
Beer
Posted by Lew Rockwell on June 4, 2013 11:16 AM
“Sometimes when I reflect on all the beer I drink, I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn’t drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. I think, ‘It is better to drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.’”—Babe Ruth