Alcohol Prohibition: Both Sides of the Question

Both Sides of the Question Prohibition, a change which was created in 1919 through the 18th amendment, and abolished 1933through the 21st Amendment. This ratification was created to stop consumption of alcohol, and lower crime, and lower violence in families, however it failed in more ways than one, but it could also be viewed as a success. Prohibition was in many ways a failure. The banning of alcohol increased crime drastically. Gangsters and crime bosses bootlegged beer, and alcohol, selling it for extremely high prices. Because of prohibition the total spending of liquor in the U.S. was doubled, and the total consumption was doubled as well. The homicide rate tripled, and the total prison population went up by 400%. Organized crime took root, started by Lucky Luciano, and speakeasies opened up. By the end of the 1930’s Al Capone controlled over 10,000 speakeasies. Numerous other crimes, including theft and murder, were directly linked to criminal activities due to organized crime. Although prohibition had many downsides, it had many upsides as well. Homeownership increased by many times. Because of prohibition many people stopped drinking alcohol, and bought houses. Prosperity increased in larger cities. Although there were some good things about prohibition, the bad outweighed the good. Corruption in law enforcement was another problem. Gangsters, who were becoming incredibly wealthy off the supply and demand off alcohol, bribed police officers, so they could stay in business. Even though “The Noble Experiment” was a good idea at the time, it was a failed experiment that worsened the conditions that the government wanted to