Prohibition

The period between 1920 and 1933 in U.S. history when the manufacture, purchase, transportation, import, export, and sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited by the [Volstead act]?, the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It was repealed in 1933 by the 21st amemdment.

While Prohibition did much to reduce the consumption of alcoholic beverages by Americans, it also presented lucrative opportunities for organized crime ([Al Capone]? probably the most famous bootlegger of them all) to take over the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages.