Death row inmates are not allowed specific 'last meal' luxury item with ban lasting 191 years

“What would be your death row meal?” is often a question that might pop up in an ice breaker, on a podcast or even round the pub.

But while it sees us conjure up dreams of our favourite foods, it’s a reality for those living in the jails across the US. The details of inmates’ final meals often get published in the reports following executions, with the likes of various junk food tending to be the most popular choices.

However, while many dine on their favourite or nostalgic tastes from burgers to ribeye steak, there’s a particular item that those up for execution cannot request.

And as this luxury has been banned for a whopping 191 years, Texas previously banned the final meal tradition altogether.

A meal inside a cell at San Quentin State Prison's death row adjustment centre. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Way, way back in 1835, Manuel Fernandez is said to have been the last death row inmate allowed to have the luxury of a ‘nip of brandy’ and a few tokes on a cigar before he was executed.

And since then, alcohol has been banned from the final meal tradition.

That’s because most prisons count any form of alcoholic beverage as ‘contraband’ so it’s strictly forbidden from being inside altogether.

Tobacco is also included in the list of forbidden items in the jails.

Instead, inmates can request the likes of fizzy drinks to accompany their final meal – there’s just no booze in sight.

Meanwhile, Texas abolished the chance for inmates to request their preferences for their final bites before their execution back in 2011.

This is said to be directly down to the actions of Lawrence Russell Brewer, who was sentenced to death in the southern state.

He ordered such a huge amount of food that it was deemed as taking advantage and being excessive.

Booze cannot be ordered with the final meal. (Getty Stock)

Convicted of a racially motivated murder, he notoriously requested: two chicken fried steaks smothered in gravy with sliced onions; a triple bacon cheeseburger with fixings on the side; a cheese omelette with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, peppers and jalapenos; a large bowl of fried okra with ketchup; one pound of barbecue meat with half a loaf of white bread; three fajitas with all the trimmings; a Meat Lovers pizza; one pint of vanilla ice cream; a slab of peanut butter fudge; and three root beers.

And then when it arrived, Brewer refused to touch any of it.

To combat this kind of thing happening elsewhere, the likes of Florida has a $40 limit in place for final meal orders.