Prohibition

2 Pages 444 Words

Prohibition was a measure designed in the United States to reduce drinking by eliminating the businesses that manufactured, distributed, and sold alcoholic beverages. Those in charge of establishing it were concerned and alarmed by the drinking behavior of some Americans, and feared a culture of drinking among some sectors of the population was spreading because of continuing immigration from Europe. In 1893, the formation of the Anti – Saloon League helped strengthen the prohibition movement. The prohibition laws were strictly enforced by the League and other organizations such as the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and soon became a national effort. At the time, the brewing industry was the most prosperous of the beverage alcohol industries. The Brewers began to enter the retail business because of the competitive nature of brewing. Retail businesses was called selling beer and whiskey by the glass saloons. Therefore, to increase the sale of beer, brewers expanded the number of saloons. The number of saloons soared, and it was not uncommon to find one saloon for every 150 or 200 Americans including those who did not drink. Saloonkeepers sometimes introduced vices such as gambling and prostitution into their establishment in order to earn profits. Some Americans considered saloons offensive and noxious institutions, and the prohibition leaders believed that once license to do business was removed from the liquor traffic, the churches and reform organizations would enjoy a chance to persuade Americans to give up drinking. The idea went unchallenged by the drink businesses. The reign of saloons soon disappeared from the landscape, and saloonkeepers were no longer allowed to encourage people, including children, to drink alcoholic beverages. Some prohibition leaders began to push for an educational campaign that would greatly expand once drinking became illegal, and would soon lead to a sober, more compatible nation. ...