Prohibition transformed average alcohol consuming people into criminals. It also made big business of the illegal distribution and production of alcoholic beverages. "Legitimate companies prospered [in the 1920's] but not as much as business outside of the law." (Taggert 1) Prohibition's effect was not less drinking, but more drinking accompanied by other dangers such as crime. The banning of alcohol reached every level of our society. A huge failure of prohibition was that while alcohol was illegal, it was still being produced with no government guidelines or quality control.

"According to author Thomas Coffey, 'the death rate from poison liquor was appallingly high throughout the country. In 1925, the national death toll was appallingly high throughout the country. In 1925 th

Many people viewed prohibition as reason to revolt. First, merchants in the production or sale of alcohol were jobless because of prohibition. These merchants felt that prohibition "...was intended to repress the economic rejuvenation of the alcoholic beverages industry."( Kinzler, William 1) Second, prohibition created an environment in which breaking the law was enjoyable. "Congressman Thomas Spencer Crago of Pennsylvania had predicted that the attempt to enforce prohibition would breed 'a discontent and disrespect for law in this country beyond anything we have ever witnessed before.' He was right. For many, openly defying prohibition was almost fun. Others only pretended to comply, sneaking liquor into their homes or slinking off to speakeasies, bars, where liquor was served illegally."(Cayton, Andrew 466) While not every one had the audacity to openly drink, people found ways around the laws at hand. "prohibition also led many people to drink more legitimate alcohol, such as patent medicines (which contained high concentrations of alcohol) and medicinal and sacramental alcohol. The amount of alcoholic liquors sold by physicians and hospitals doubled between 1923 and 1924, while medicinal alcohol, 95% pure,

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