Community Corner

Prohibition Ended 80 Years Ago Today

Prohibition in the United States ended 80 years ago on Dec. 5, 1933, according to historians.

Have you heard any stories about Prohibition in the San Gorgonio Pass and the Coachella Valley?

The nationwide ban on sales, production, importation, and transportation of alcoholic beverages was supposed to be in effect from 1920 to 1933.

The dry movement, originally led by Protestants in the Democratic and Republican parties, was coordinated by the Anti-Saloon League, and it was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, according to historians.

Without unified popular consensus for enforcement, Prohibition led to infamous unintended consequences: the growth of criminal organizations, including the American Mafia, disregard of federal law, and corruption among some politicians and in law enforcement.

Share your thoughts on the anniversary of the end of Prohibition in the comments section below.


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