Prohibition and its negative effects on society

Introduction

Prohibition is a controversial measure that has applied certain states throughout history, involving the banning of the manufacture, use, processing, transport, import, export and sale of Alcohol. These are just some of the effects that could be harmful to humans when they drink. These things were trying to be prevented by prohibition. There are also other views about prohibition. It could have been going too far, by taking away our free choice. People have the free choice to do what they want with their bodies and do what they want with their money. Maybe a limitation quota would have been more reasonable that total prohibition of alcohol (Blocker, 43).

Some people would even go as far to say the whole thing was an utter failure. Although consumption of alcohol fell at the beginning of Prohibition, it eventually increased. Alcohol became more dangerous to consume because of risky production; crime increased and became "organized"; and corruption of government officials was rampant. It also took away a massive government tax and it decreased government spending by taking this tax away from the nation.

Background

The most important and the media ban was the eighteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States (known as the Volstead Act) supported by many anti-alcohol activists like Carrie Nation. The ban caused a considerable rise of organized crime. A good example of this was Al Capone (inspiration of countless movies such as "The Untouchables") or other U.S. crime bosses. One year, after the ratification of this amendment, prohibited the manufacture, sale, transportation, importation and exportation of intoxicating liquors for use as a beverage in the United States and any territory under its jurisdiction. It ratified in 1919, repeal in 1933 and ratified the repeal amendment XXI of the U.S. Constitution (inside and outside the home) (Robert, 13).

What was prohibition?

Prohibition means to prohibit the consumption of alcohol, and failing to provide supply to the demand exists, creates black markets and black money, which gets the other places where liquor produced, smuggled and sold to satisfy that need a higher price, because, in any case, demand is still higher than supply.

How did it come about?

During the time period, there was a prohibition on alcohol. The prohibition was a law that no alcoholic beverages were to be brought, transported, or consumed from 1920-1933. Prohibition passed as the eighteenth amendment to the constitution in 1919 and became law in 1920. Even though, the President of the time, Woodrow Wilson, did not agree, it passed over his veto. The law passed to reduce crime, to improve health, to solve social problems, and to reduce the tax burden taking place. It lasted until the 21st amendment in 1933.

Although prohibition introduced to reduce crime in America, it brought along a wave of gang violence. The "Prohibition Era" led to the rise of countless terrible kingpins, the most well known being Al Capone. Instead of reducing the escalating crime waves in New York and Chicago, Prohibition utterly swept it underground (Blocker, ...