National Prohibition Act (Volstead Act)

The National Prohibition Act, commonly known as the Volstead Act, was a law enacted in 1919 to enforce the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. It defined what constituted an alcoholic drink and outlined penalties for violations. The law aimed to reduce alcohol consumption and its social problems but also led to illegal production and distribution, known as bootlegging, and the rise of speakeasies. Prohibition lasted until 1933, when the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment, ending nationwide alcohol bans.