December 5, 2013 Marks 80th Anniversary of the End of National Prohibition

December 5, 2013 will mark the 80^th anniversary of the end of National Prohibition in 1933. Prohibition was a 14 year experiment gone bad (it began in 1919), and many bad things came out of it. It was a time characterized by speakeasies (illegal bars and nightclubs), glamour, gangsters, and a period of time in which even the average law abiding citizen broke the law. This period marked the meteoric rise of organized crime families, who quickly jumped on the huge profits made from bootleg beer, wine, and whiskey. Such names as Al Capone became legends of organized crime and history.

Prohibition was brought about by the Temperance movement that blamed alcohol for many of society's ills, especially crime and murder. Saloons, that at the time were men only, were viewed, especially by women, as a place of evil and debauchery. They believed that eliminating alcohol would put the men back at home with their families and stop many of the alcohol related accidents in the workplace. They finally won out and the 18^th amendment to the U.S. Constitution established Prohibition.

The Volstead Act was actually what defined the law and it was passed on October 28, 1919. It stated that it was illegal to manufacture, sell, or manufacture beer, wine, or any other intoxicating liquor over 0.5% alcohol by volume. Interestingly, the law never stated that it was illegal to drink alcohol so many people stocked up before the law went into effect. It was also legal to manufacture and sell alcohol for medicinal purposes and wine for use in church communion. Record numbers were recorded for both doctor visits with alcohol prescriptions and church attendance (especially people serving on the communion committees.)

After several years, the perfect world envisioned by the Temperance movement failed to materialize and people began fighting for the repeal of prohibition. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression helped speed up the need for repeal and the jobs and taxes it would bring. By 1933, the Noble Experiment, as some called it, was over and, with the 21^st amendment, alcoholic beverages returned with much fanfare.

One positive thing to come out of Prohibition was the beginning of alcohol and beer and wine distributors. It was and still is believed that these distributors, like G&M, would self regulate the industry. One interesting point of trivia is that the 18^th amendment is the first and only time in our country's history that an amendment has been repealed. Cheers!