Prohibition (U.S.)

Prohibition in the United States was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, sale, and transportation of alcohol from 1920 to 1933, driven by social and political efforts to reduce crime, improve public morals, and address health issues. Enacted through the 18th Amendment, it aimed to curb alcohol abuse but instead led to illegal activity, such as bootlegging and speakeasies. The unintended consequences, including organized crime, prompted widespread opposition, resulting in the 21st Amendment's ratification, which repealed Prohibition and allowed alcohol regulation back to individual states.