The 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which forbade the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” in the United States, took effect in 1920. President Herbert Hoover politely referred to Prohibition as a “noble experiment,” but in hindsight, it mostly failed. Prohibition created a national policy to stop individuals from doing what they had done since the first settlers landed in America, and as a practical matter, it was unenforceable. Today, America’s drinks governance remains a mostly state-based patchwork with a limited federal role.
To mark the centennial of Prohibition, please join AEI’s Kevin R. Kosar for a conversation exploring how alcohol has influenced America’s economy, politics, and culture. RSVP at https://www.aei.org/events/from-fish-punch-to-bud-light-americas-long-complicated-relationship-with-alcohol/
LIVE Q&A: Submit questions to Elayne.Allen@aei.org or on Twitter with #AEIProhibition.
