Rewriting history


Apparently Prohibition worked, at least according to the American Journal of Public Health
I know that Nineteen Eighty-Four similes are overdone, but I honestly don't know what to make of this . It is like something straight out of the Ministry of Truth.

The conventional view that National Prohibition failed rests upon an historically flimsy base. The successful campaign to enact National Prohibition was the fruit of a century-long temperance campaign, experience of which led prohibitionists to conclude that a nationwide ban on alcohol was the most promising of the many strategies tried thus far. A sharp rise in consumption during the early 20th century seemed to confirm the bankruptcy of alternative alcohol-control programs. The stringent prohibition imposed by the Volstead Act, however, represented a more drastic action than many Americans expected. Nevertheless, National Prohibition succeeded both in lowering consumption and in retaining political support until the onset of the Great Depression radically changed the historical altered voters' priorities. Repeal resulted more from this contextual shift than from characteristics of the innovation itself.

Alcohol use declined. Right. That must have been because of all those speakeasies that served only root beer. And Al Capone must have made his money by running maple syrup across the border. And of course, every good American faithfully reported their alcohol use to the nearest government official.

Hat tip to The Agitator.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Thu - December 29, 2005 at 04:45 PM  Tag


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