Prohibition Detrimental Effects

The Detrimental Effects of Prohibition
Banning alcohol dug Americans into a really deep hole that was hard to escape. Prohibition, also known as the eighteenth amendment, was the act of banning alcohol in America. Alcohol created many problems, so people who were supporters of the banning of it, “Prohibitionists” thought that just getting rid of it completely would solve every problem. This idea that getting rid of something entirely just because it causes problems was not well thought through. Women and people involved in religion were usually supporters of Prohibition. Women believed it caused problems in the home and in their marriages, and people involved in the church and religion believed alcohol consumption had too many negative effects.
With the need for alcohol, people turned to illegal alternatives to obtain it. Sneaking into speakeasies gave people a sense of freedom. Prohibition’s results actually backfired due to the desire of not only alcohol, but now a sense of rebellion and freedom. During the Prohibition time period, crime rates were at an all-time high. From the social aspect, Prohibition affected the United States negatively. Even though the goal was not to increase crime, that is exactly what prohibition did. Prohibition made people who usually abide by the law commit crimes because they were accustom to consuming alcohol. The eighteenth amendment did not bring out the best in people because they were willing to go to any extremity to get what they wanted: alcohol. Not only did prohibition increase crime rates, but it increased organized crime. Now, illegal systems and plans on obtaining alcohol were erupting as opposed to a small group of individuals committing a crime (Kelly,
With the main goals being to stop people and families from fighting and to help people financially , Prohibition did the complete opposite of that. Now, people who had not even been that interested in the consumption of alcohol were drooling over the fact. Along with alcohol being illegal meant if one drank alcohol, they were considered to be rebellious because it was against the law. People enjoyed the feeling of freedom and youth. Banning alcohol is equivalent to taking something away from a teenager. For example, if a parent tells their teenaged child that they cannot use their phone for the day, just that alone will make them want to use it more out of spite. In the case of Prohibition, American citizens represent the teenagers and the eighteenth amendment represents the parents. Before being enacted, Prohibitions multiple outcomes should have been kept in mind. Just like anything else, Prohibition had pros, but it also had many cons that outweighed the pros. The negative effects of the eighteenth amendment should serve as an example for next time America needs to make a decision such as the one they had to make during this time. Prohibition was not a good choice in solving the problems going on in America economically, socially, and politically (History.com