Prohibition of Alcoholic Beverages in the USA:

Abstract

Americans are known for their wide consumption of liquors. Social and moral illnesses spiked through American society because of drinking alcohol, especially during the 19th century and the beginnings of the 20th century. The issue instigated activists in America to establish movements voicing their demands to ban the intoxicating beverages. The passage of the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution in 1919 (taking effect in 1920 with the Volstead Act) was a profound attempt to contain the worrying situation. The research sheds light on the successfulness of the Prohibition law, the extent to which the set goals were achieved, its economic and cultural implications on the country. Alcohol consumption had initially decreased during the nationwide constitutional ban of drinks, but it would become a source of social tension with the dramatic rise of organized crime and corruption. The restrictions imposed on liquor trade incited smugglers to intensify their criminal activities in response to the federal government's decision. They bribed public officials to avoid legal accountability, achieving millions of dollars each year. Opponents of Prohibition claimed it was among the reasons leading up to the worst economic recession in US history, known as the Great Depression, which in turn would serve to repeal the Prohibition Amendment.