You would imagine that all sane folk would have been anti-anti-booze, but surprisingly many were in favour, including the majority of women, southerners, rural citizens and African-Americans. However, the ban on drink had some pretty nasty side effects and was not sustainable as we shall see.
One effect of Prohibition was the rise and rise of the Mafia. Previously crime gangs had busied themselves with whore houses and gambling dens, but now they had a whole new line of business. This new line of work didn’t just attract criminals, it attracted previously law-abiding citizens who disagreed with the law and thought it was their right to be allowed to have a drink.
The US government could only afford to pay for 1,520 Federal Prohibition Agents to try to control vast swathes of booze filled lands. So to operate an illegal drinking den was relatively easy. By 1925 New York had between 30,000 and 100,000 illegal drinking dens known as speakeasies. The police had their work cut out for them.
☛ Next: Professional Wrestling, Alcohol & Cocaine
