What is the background of the "prohibition of alcohol" in the United States?

1920 17 10/7 00: 00, the amendment to the American constitution, Prohibition Act (also known as Voltaire Act), came into effect.

According to this law, it is illegal to manufacture, sell or even transport drinks with alcohol content above 0.5%. It is not illegal to drink at home by yourself, and it is illegal to drink with friends or hold a banquet. The maximum penalty is a fine of $ 1000 and imprisonment for half a year.

The day before the prohibition came into effect, there was an endless stream of wine trucks on the road, and people rushed to take wine home for collection. At night, there was no one in the street. It turned out that people gathered at home or other public places to hold the last legal "farewell reception". A senator raised a glass at the dinner and said, "Tonight is the night before Americans are deprived of their personal freedom." This remark drew warm applause.

Before the federal government passed this bill, 25 states in the United States had their own prohibition laws. However, new york Mayor Lagadi expressed doubts about the feasibility of this law. He pointed out that in new york alone, as many as 250,000 police officers need to be mobilized to effectively enforce the prohibition. Because the Law on Prohibition of Alcohol ignores the difficulties in law enforcement and the fact that people's desires cannot be dispelled by pure suppression, it finally has the opposite effect: bootlegging becomes a huge illegal business. The underworld in the United States has become unprecedentedly prosperous under the nourishment of private liquor profits.

The amendment 18 was finally abolished on February 4th, 933. It was at this time that Utah became the last state to ratify the amendment 2 1 after 35 other states. The nationwide long-term prohibition campaign is over.

U.S. President Roosevelt reminded people all over the country to be temperate, so as not to lead to what he called "personal disgust" like the 1920 ban. He also asked States not to let bars make a comeback.

"Simply put, it is mainly caused by the women's movement. Because alcoholism has caused many domestic violence problems, alcohol prohibition has been implemented to protect women's rights and interests. Moreover, alcohol is also associated with evil in religion, which is also opposed by religious organizations. However, the prohibition of alcohol has led to the proliferation of illicit alcohol, and many people enrich themselves by selling illicit alcohol. Gatsby, the hero of The Great Gatsby, made his fortune on private liquor (although it is not explicitly stated in the novel, the so-called pharmacy refers to private hotels. Because the only alcohol that can be legally sold is medical alcohol) Later, the government found that there was nothing to do, and simply abolished this amendment. Now we mainly rely on high tax rates to raise prices and control tobacco and alcohol sales. There is also an age limit. "