Despite this ban, much alcohol was still available in gatherings called "Speakeasies". Many kept private bars, and alcohol had been smuggled from from Canada-overland and through the Great Lakes. Less than a year after prohibition after the legislation was enacted, more than 900,000 cases of liquor were being shipped to the border cities.
Whiskey could be prescribed by doctors. The labels warned that it was strictly for medicinal purposes and any other uses were illegal, but even so doctors freely wrote prescriptions and drug-stores filled them without question, so the number of "patients" increased dramatically. Over a million gallons were consumed per year.
Because Prohibition banned only the manufacturing, sale, and transport - but not possession or consuming of alcohol, some people and institutions who had bought or made liquor prior to the passage of the 18th Amendment were able to continue to serve it throughout the prohibition period legally. Even politicians admitted to holding alcohol-in fact, President Harding noted he had kept bootleg alcohol in the White House. The discrepancy between legality and actual practice led to widespread comtempt for authority. Over time, more people drank illegally and so gangster's profited.
In 1933 federal prohibition laws had been repealed.
To learn more about Prohibition, click the provided link:
http://www.1920-30.com/prohibition/
Very good post! Information and pictures interesting. 75/75
ReplyDeleteMs. Donahue