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- The Consequences of Prohibition did not just include effects on people's drinking habits but also on the worldwide economy, the people's trust of the government, and the public health system. Alcohol, from the rise of the temperance movement to modern day restrictions around the world, has long been a source of turmoil. When alcoholic beverages were first banned under the Volstead Act in 1919, the United States government had little idea of the severity of the consequences. It was first thought that a ban on alcohol would increase the moral character of society, but a ban on alcohol had vast unintended consequences. The first to be impacted were the alcohol manufactures and distributers. When they were shut down, it caused a massive drop in the economy and led to the unemployment of thousands of workers. Additionally, venues such as theaters and clubs which previously used alcohol to draw people in lost much of their business. Various methods to obtain alcohol, whether illegally or through legal loopholes in the system, were established. Bootlegging and organized crime became a prominent issue in the United States. Various secret venues popped up around the country, often formed by organized crime syndicates. Because of the rise in illegal manufacturing and limited resources, few restrictions were placed on the production of alcohol. Questionable ingredients were frequently added which were harmful to human consumption. Poisoning became a serious issue as various un-safe methods were used to make the production of alcohol an easier and cheaper process. Though these methods led to an increase in sales, and larger profits for those selling them, they had severe health consequences on those who bought illegal alcohol. Another way in which alcohol could be obtained was through a medical prescription. Though there were limits to how much a doctor could prescribe, this access to alcoholic drinks intended for medical purposes was heavily abused. Relatively few medical licenses were revoked. With the rapid increase in organized crime and illegal production of alcohol, there was a great strain on law enforcement. Lack of funding due to losing out on much tax revenue from alcohol manufacturers did not help the mounting problem. Desperate for solutions, the government took to more extreme measures. Whether directly or indirectly, the government began to increase the toxicity of industrial alcohol used to make illegal alcoholic beverages to discourage consumption. One prominent method, which ultimately lead to the death of thousands, was the use of methyl alcohol. This type of alcohol can be deadly even in small doses. Whether obtaining liquor illegally or sourcing it from industrial alcohol poisoned by the government, drinking alcohol was dangerous during the prohibition era. A famous example of poisoning is the case of Bix Beiderbecke whose medical records and subsequent death seem to point to methanol poisoning, possibly because of the United States government. Various governments around the world adopted prohibition measures, as can be seen in several European countries, Canada, and New Zealand, around the time of the Volstead act. More modern examples include Iran, whose restriction on alcohol helped contribute to poisonings across the country during the outbreak of Covid-19, and the Czech Republic, who placed temporary restrictions on alcoholic drinks to protect consumers from poisonous substances already present in the liquor. (en)
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- The Consequences of Prohibition did not just include effects on people's drinking habits but also on the worldwide economy, the people's trust of the government, and the public health system. Alcohol, from the rise of the temperance movement to modern day restrictions around the world, has long been a source of turmoil. When alcoholic beverages were first banned under the Volstead Act in 1919, the United States government had little idea of the severity of the consequences. It was first thought that a ban on alcohol would increase the moral character of society, but a ban on alcohol had vast unintended consequences. (en)
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