United States
On January 17, 1920, the Volstead Act, enforcing the 18th Amendment, went into effect, ushering in nationwide Prohibition in the United States. The law banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of “intoxicating liquors” intended for beverage use. Prohibition led to a rise in bootlegging, speakeasies, and organized crime, and placed enforcement burdens on state and federal authorities. Over time, public opposition grew due to enforcement difficulties, unintended consequences, and changing social attitudes. Prohibition was later repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.
