Prohibition

Prohibition is the act of making something illegal by law. Most often, when people talk about prohibition, they are referring to the time when the making, storing, moving, selling, owning, and drinking of alcoholic beverages were all banned. This happened in the United States during the early 1900s.

The ban on alcohol began because many people were concerned about the problems that came with people drinking too much. They worried about fights, accidents, and families having trouble because of alcohol. Because of these worries, the government passed a law called the 18th Amendment in 1919, making it illegal to produce or sell alcoholic drinks.

This period of prohibition lasted for about 13 years, until 1933, when the government changed the law again. They realized that banning alcohol wasn’t working well and that many negative things were happening because of the ban itself, like the rise of illegal bars and organized crime groups that made and sold alcohol secretly. The end of prohibition marked an important moment in American history and showed how laws can have unexpected results.

History

Some early rules about alcohol were made thousands of years ago. For example, an ancient set of laws called the Code of Hammurabi said beer could only be traded for barley, not money. Later, a Greek city called Eleutherna made a law against drunkenness, except during religious events.

In the early 1900s, many people wanted to stop alcohol use because of strong moral beliefs. Some women, who had just gained the right to vote, supported these ideas. Several countries tried banning alcohol for a time. For example, the United States had a nationwide ban called Prohibition from 1920 to 1933. Other places like Canada, Finland, and Iceland also had their own periods of prohibition.

These bans often failed because people still wanted alcohol. Some began to smuggle it in secretly, and criminal groups sometimes took control of this trade. After a few years, most countries ended their bans, though a few still have restrictions today.

Effects

Prohibition, or banning alcohol by law, often doesn’t work very well. When alcohol is banned, people usually find ways to get it illegally instead. Many countries with long-standing bans on alcohol have populations that, for religious reasons, do not drink. However, because so many people enjoy alcohol, it’s very hard to enforce these bans. As a result, most countries that have tried to completely stop alcohol have later changed their minds and allowed it again. For example, both the United States and the Soviet Union banned alcohol completely but lifted these bans after less than 15 years.

Prohibition worldwide

Africa

Nigeria

In the British colony of Nigeria, missionary forces demanded the prohibition of liquor, which was very unpopular. Both Africans and British found illegal supplies like secret stills, colonial liquor permits, and smuggling. This experiment began in 1890 and ended in 1939.

South Africa

During the coronavirus outbreak of 2020, alcohol sales and transportation outside one's home were made illegal. This order started during the nationwide lockdown on March 27, 2020. The goal was to prevent drunken fights, reduce domestic violence, stop drunk driving, and eliminate weekend binge-drinking. Police and analysts believe alcohol is involved in at least 40% of emergency hospital admissions. The prohibition aimed to reduce hospital cases and slow the spread of the virus. A 2022 study found that this alcohol ban reduced injury-related deaths by at least 14% and sharply cut violent crime.

South Asia

Afghanistan

Sale of alcohol is illegal in Afghanistan.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, alcohol is somewhat prohibited due to Islamic beliefs. However, the Garo tribe drinks a type of rice beer, and Christians can purchase and consume wine for holy communion.

India

In India, alcohol laws vary by state. Most states allow alcohol sales, but some, like Mizoram, Gujarat, Bihar, and Nagaland, have prohibition. Election days and certain national holidays are "dry days" with no liquor sales, though consumption is allowed. Some states also have dry days for major religious festivals.

Maldives

The Maldives ban the import of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks are only available to foreign tourists on resort islands and cannot be taken off the resort.

Pakistan

Pakistan allowed free alcohol sales from 1947 until 1977. Now, only non-Muslim minorities like Hindus, Christians, and Zoroastrians can apply for alcohol permits. The amount allowed depends on income, about five bottles of liquor or 100 bottles of beer per month. Only about 60 outlets sell alcohol. The Murree Brewery in Rawalpindi was once the only legal brewery, but there are more now. The ban is enforced by the country's Islamic Ideology Council but not strictly policed.

Sri Lanka

In 1955, Sri Lanka passed a law stopping adult women from buying alcohol. In 2018, the finance minister announced plans to change this law, but the president overruled it.

West Asia

Iran

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Muslims are banned from selling and drinking alcohol, but some trade and sell it illegally. Home production by religious minorities like Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians is legal.

Kuwait

The consumption, importation, brewing, and trafficking of liquor is strictly against the law.

Saudi Arabia

The sale, consumption, importation, brewing, and trafficking of liquor is strictly against the law.

Yemen

Alcohol is banned in Yemen.

Southeast Asia

Brunei

In Brunei, alcohol consumption and sale is banned in public. Non-Muslims can purchase a limited amount of alcohol from their point of embarcation overseas for private use. Non-Muslims aged 18 or older can bring in up to two bottles of liquor and twelve cans of beer per person.

Indonesia

Alcohol sales are banned in small shops and convenience stores.

Korea

During the Joseon period, laws against drinking alcohol were issued during droughts, crop failures, or famines to appease the heavens and save resources. Bans were common during King Taejong's reign and often during the reigns of Kings Seongjong and Yeonsangun. Another ban occurred in 1758 during King Yeongjo's reign. These bans usually happened in spring and summer during severe droughts.

Malaysia

Alcohol is banned for Muslims due to Islamic law. However, alcoholic products are easily found in supermarkets, specialty shops, and convenience stores. Non-halal restaurants also typically sell alcohol.

Philippines

Alcohol sales are restricted during elections. It cannot be sold or consumed the day before and on election day. Hotels and restaurants can get exemptions but only to serve non-Filipino citizens. Private consumption of hoarded alcohol is allowed. The Commission on Elections can extend the ban, as proposed in the 2013 elections to five days, but this was overturned by the Supreme Court. Outside of elections, alcohol is freely sold to anyone above the legal drinking age.

Thailand

Alcohol sales are banned during elections from the evening before voting until the end of voting day. Alcohol is also banned on major Buddhist holy days and sometimes on royal commemoration days. Thailand has daily time-limited bans on alcohol sales, allowing purchase only between 11:00 and midnight. The law is enforced by retailers but often ignored by small stores. Hotels and resorts are exempt. Consumption is banned within 200 meters of filling stations, schools, temples, or hospitals, and on board any road vehicle. During events like Thai New Year, the government may ban alcohol sales in specific public areas with large crowds. Thailand strictly regulates alcohol advertising under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008, and sales via electronic channels are prohibited.

Europe

Czech Republic

In September 2012, the Czech Republic banned sales of alcoholic drinks with more than 20% alcohol due to methanol poisoning cases that killed 18 people. The ban lasted until October 2012.

Nordic countries

The Nordic countries, except Denmark, have had strong temperance movements since the late 1800s. Sweden had a rationing system called the Bratt System from 1914 to 1955. Iceland instituted total prohibition in 1915, lifted for wine in 1922 and spirits in 1935, but beer remained banned until 1989. Norway prohibited distilled beverages in 1916 and extended the ban to fortified wine and beer in 1917; these bans were lifted in the 1920s. Finland enacted prohibition in 1919, which was repealed in 1932 after public opposition and increased crime.

Today, Nordic countries except Denmark have strict controls on alcohol sales, with government monopolies in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. Greenland, part of Denmark, has high alcohol prices and limits on private imports.

Russian Empire and the Soviet Union

In the Russian Empire, a limited Dry Law was introduced in 1914, continuing through the Russian Revolution and Civil War into the Soviet Union until 1925.

United Kingdom

The UK has never had nationwide prohibition, though groups like the Society of Friends, The Methodist Church, and temperance movements have campaigned for it. The village of Bournville remains dry due to its founder's Quaker beliefs. The United Kingdom Alliance formed in 1853 to promote prohibition but faced opposition. Prohibitionist Edwin Scrymgeour was the only MP elected on a prohibitionist ticket, serving Dundee from 1922 to 1931.

North America

Canada

Indigenous peoples in Canada were subject to prohibitory alcohol laws under the Indian Act of 1876, repealed in 1985. Canada had a non-binding federal referendum on prohibition in 1898 but chose provincial laws. National prohibition lasted from 1918 to 1920 as a wartime measure. Provinces repealed their laws mostly in the 1920s, though some local areas remain dry.

Mexico

Some communities in Chiapas, controlled by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, ban alcohol to reduce domestic violence, though this is not recognized by federal law. Alcohol sales are prohibited on and the night before national holidays and presidential elections.

United States

Prohibition in the United States focused on manufacturing, transporting, and selling alcoholic beverages, with exceptions for medicinal and religious uses. Nationwide Prohibition began in January 1920 with the Eighteenth Amendment, ratified in 1919, and repealed in 1933 with the Twenty-first Amendment. Concern over alcohol began in the colonial era, with fines for drunken behavior. The temperance movement grew in the 19th century, overshadowed by slavery and the Civil War until the 1870s. The Women's Crusade and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union organized women, and the Anti-Saloon League led the movement to a constitutional amendment. By 1913, nine states had prohibition, and 31 had local option laws. The Eighteenth Amendment passed Congress in 1917 and was ratified in 1919. The Volstead Act implemented it in 1919, and prohibition began on January 16, 1920.

Illegal stills and smuggling grew, with organized crime groups like Al Capone in Chicago and Lucky Luciano in New York City profiting from bootlegging. Prohibition lost support during the Great Depression, and repeal was accomplished with the Twenty-first Amendment on December 5, 1933. States were allowed to set their own alcohol laws. Federal laws still regulate alcohol with standards, licensing, taxation, and enforcement by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Between 1832 and 1953, federal law prohibited alcohol sales to Native Americans, with limited success. After 1953, Native American communities could pass their own ordinances. Today, some U.S. counties and parishes are "dry," prohibiting or restricting alcohol sales.

South America

Venezuela

Twenty-four hours before every election, Venezuela prohibits alcohol sales nationwide to reduce traffic accidents during Holy Week.

Oceania

Australia

The Australian Capital Territory was the first to have prohibition laws in 1911, repealed after a 1928 plebiscite. Some states and local councils have dry areas where alcohol can only be consumed in licensed venues. More recently, alcohol is prohibited in many remote Indigenous communities to prevent harm, with severe penalties for transporting alcohol into these areas.

New Zealand

Prohibition began in the mid-1880s by Protestant churches and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. It never achieved national prohibition. Referendums in the 1910s and 1920s failed, though a 6 pm closing hour for pubs and Sunday closing remained until 1967. Individual towns or areas could vote to be "dry," like Invercargill from 1907 to 1943. The last dry area is governed by a licensing trust, allowing alcohol sales only in bars and liquor stores, not supermarkets. Prohibition led to bootlegging, famously in the Hokonui Hills near Gore.

Elections

In several countries and U.S. states, selling alcohol is not allowed before and during elections. This rule is known as a Ley Seca or "dry law" in Spanish-speaking countries. It helps make sure that people can vote calmly and safely.