Did You Know?

Did you know that it wasn’t actually illegal to consume alcohol during Prohibition? Or that Al Capone’s oldest brother was a Prohibition enforcement agent?
Prohibition was a very interesting and groundbreaking era in American history, and today marks the 104th anniversary of the 18th Amendment going into effect, effectively starting Prohibition in the United States.  

Prohibition: Facts You’ll Love to Know

1) It wasn't illegal to drink during Prohibition.

2) Drug stores sold alcohol as medicine.

3) Speakeasies were often located behind green doors.

4) The term "speakeasy" is assumed to come from the fact that you had to speak quietly—or “speak easy”—to get in.

5) In Mississippi, you couldn't legally buy a drink until 1966.

6)The 18th Amendment to the Constitution was the only one ever to be repealed.

7) Utah was the last of the 36 states needed to end Prohibition.

8) It is believed that Al Capone made $60 million a year from the speakeasies he controlled and his bootlegging operations.

Read on to dive deeper into the history and legacy of Prohibition!

The Origins of Prohibition

Imagine a world where enjoying a cocktail at home was forbidden—well, technically, you could still enjoy it as long as you had stashed it before January 1920. Prohibition didn’t ban the consumption of alcohol; it banned the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol. So, as long as you had it at home, you could still drink it. But if you didn’t have stock, you were out of luck—this was the reality during the Prohibition era, which began in 1920.
Movements protesting heavy drinking (and yes, it was heavy, with the average American man consuming 7 to 12 gallons of alcohol per year) began well before Prohibition went into effect.
In the 19th century, whiskey rations for soldiers were cancelled, and President Jackson banned drinking at military installations.
Religious organisations viewed drinking as a sin, and a few states banned the sale of alcohol during the mid-19th century—the first being Maine in 1851, setting a trend toward nationwide Prohibition.
The Civil War reversed the trend, as the government needed taxes from alcohol sales to finance the war, and the majority of states repealed their alcohol bans.
The movement returned years after the war. America experienced large waves of immigration from countries where drinking was ingrained in the culture, such as Ireland and Germany. The movement was mainly supported by wives who blamed domestic abuse and financial hardships on the high consumption of alcohol.

The Anti-Saloon League and the 18th Amendment

A significant shift happened toward the end of the 19th century with the founding of the Anti-Saloon League. It was headed by Wayne Wheeler, who influenced legislative elections in Ohio, where, by 1908, more than 50 counties had banned alcohol.
World War I helped sway the nation in favour of Prohibition. Wartime Prohibition was initially proposed to conserve resources, eventually leading to the 18th Amendment, which became law on January 16, 1919, after 36 state legislatures ratified it (Mississippi was the first on January 18, 1918, and Utah was the last on January 16, 1919).
The amendment went into effect exactly one year later, on January 17, 1920, when the Prohibition era officially began. It lasted for 13 years and officially ended in 1933 with the passage of the 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment.

American Drinking Culture During Prohibition

Smugglers and homemade alcohol

Of course, people found ways around the alcohol ban. Alcohol was smuggled illegally across borders, produced and sold illegally within the U.S.—a process known as bootlegging—or simply made at home, including items like moonshine or "bathtub gin."
Prohibition was heaven on earth for organised crime and the mafia, who controlled most of the alcohol supply. It is believed that Al Capone made $60 million a year from the speakeasies he controlled and bootlegging operations.

Speakeasies

Speakeasies were illegal, undercover private bars that required a password for entry. Interestingly, it was the concept of passwords that inspired the name. Although not coined during Prohibition, the term "speakeasy" originated in 19th-century England, where patrons were told to “speakeasy”—lowering their voices to avoid being overheard by the police.
These bars were often hidden in secret rooms or underground to avoid detection by authorities. Estimates suggest there were over 100,000 speakeasies in New York City alone!
Some speakeasies only admitted known customers.
Others required a special card for entry.
Passwords, typically unrelated to drinking, were closely guarded and passed by word of mouth to make detection more difficult.

Women and Prohibition

Before Prohibition, saloons generally didn’t welcome women. In fact, a 1907 law made it illegal for women to be in places designed for drinking alcohol. Prohibition changed everything. Since speakeasies were illegal by nature, they didn’t follow social norms. Both men and women were welcome, and it became socially acceptable (albeit unofficially) for women to drink in public.
Women not only started drinking more publicly but also became more involved in making and selling alcohol.
Some old speakeasies are still open today. For example, Pete’s Tavern posed as a flower shop during Prohibition, while Townhouse in Venice was originally a buffet in 1915 that moved all operations underground when Prohibition began, transforming the original buffet into a grocery store.

Innovative Cocktails

At first glance, it may seem reasonable to think of Prohibition as the "Golden Era" of cocktails, but in reality, cocktail culture had been gaining popularity before Prohibition. However, during Prohibition, the taste of smuggled alcohol was often questionable, to put it mildly. Bartenders had to get creative, experimenting with juices and syrups to mask the harsh flavours and make the drinks more palatable.
Meanwhile, famous American bartenders who were left jobless ventured to Europe and Cuba, where innovation flourished. One such mixologist was Harry Craddock, a British-born bartender who moved to America in 1897 but returned home during Prohibition. His book, The Savoy Cocktail Book, containing 750 cocktail recipes, was first published in 1930 and is still in print today.

Prohibition-Era Cocktails and Iconic Glassware

1. Coupe Glass

A shallow, broad-bowled glass with a short stem.
Why It Was Popular: Associated with glamour and sophistication, the coupe was ideal for Champagne and cocktails. Legend even suggests the shape was modelled after Marie Antoinette’s breast.
Popular Cocktails: French 75, Sidecar

2. Martini Glass

A stemmed, V-shaped glass.
Why It Was Popular: Legend says it was designed to make it easier to dispose of a drink quickly in case of a police raid.
Popular Cocktails: Classic Martini, Manhattan

3. Highball Glass

A tall, narrow glass designed for mixed drinks.
Why It Was Popular: Ideal for diluting homemade spirits with mixers like soda or ginger ale.
Popular Cocktails: Gin Rickey, Scotch and Soda

4. Rocks Glass (Old-Fashioned Glass)

A short, sturdy glass with a thick base.
Why It Was Popular: Perfect for slow-sipping drinks like whiskey.
Popular Cocktails: Old-Fashioned

How Americans Found Loopholes

Despite the restrictions, people found clever ways to keep drinking:
Stockpiling: Many stocked up on alcohol in the year between the 18th Amendment’s passing and its enforcement.
Medical Prescriptions: Doctors were allowed to prescribe alcohol for medicinal purposes.
International Waters: “Buzz cruises” took passengers just far enough offshore to drink legally.

The Legacy of Prohibition

In retrospect, Prohibition is often viewed as a failed experiment. Some even believe Repeal Day (December 5th) should be celebrated as a national holiday.
However, the mystique of the Roaring Twenties remains strong. Modern cocktail culture has embraced the secretive and glamorous atmosphere of the Prohibition era, from hidden speakeasy-themed bars to vintage-inspired glassware.
Today, we can enjoy Prohibition-style cocktails without fear of police raids or dubious-quality spirits. So why not raise a glass and celebrate the resilience, creativity, and enduring legacy of this fascinating era?