The History Of Prohibition

I was catching up on some podcasts and just finished listening to a Fresh Air program from May that I thought was fascinating. Terry Gross interviews author Daniel Okrent about his book Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. It’s a great interview, so I wanted to share.

Between the years of 1920, when the 18th Amendment to the Constitution was passed, and 1933, when the 21st Amendment repealed the restriction, it was illegal to sell, transport or manufacture “intoxicating” beverages for consumption in the United States.

But Prohibition didn’t stop drinking; it simply pushed the consumption of booze underground. By 1925, there were thousands of speakeasy clubs operating out of New York City, and bootlegging operations sprang up around the country to supply thirsty citizens with alcoholic drinks.

Fresh Air: Prohibition Life: Politics, Loopholes And Bathtub Gin [MP3]