The Unintended Consequences of Prohibition
When the 18th Amendment went into effect its supporters anticipated many resulting benefits. As the saloons closed their neighborhoods were expected to improve, with a resulting increase to rents. Theaters expected larger crowds since the public couldn't go to the saloons any longer. Everything from soft drinks to chewing gum to clothing all expected sales to rise dramatically. Unfortunately none of these expected benefits came to pass.
Instead, the 18th Amendment produced many unintended consequences; a marked decline in the amusement and entertainment industries with theater revenues dropping and many restaurants closing. It seems that these establishments could not make a profit without the sale of alcohol. The closing of the saloons, breweries, and distilleries led to the loss of many thousands of jobs; which in turn led to even more lost jobs for related trades such as barrel makers and truck drivers. There was the loss of tax revenues as states which relied on the taxes from the sales of alcoholic bevereges had to find other ways to fund their budgets. And then there was the question of increased corruption amongst law enforcement officers and government officials as the temptation of bribes or the opportunities offered by bootlegging increased daily. The resulting loss of public trust lasted for the duration.
However, the greatest unintended result was the most obvious. For more than a decade a law that was intended to promote temperance instead promoted intemperance. The very law with which the government had tried to address the problem of alcoholism had instead made that problem much worse.
In conclusion, Prohibition failed to do what it was intended to do, and the unintended consequences resulting from Prohibition far outweighed the few meager benefits that may have come from it.
Instead, the 18th Amendment produced many unintended consequences; a marked decline in the amusement and entertainment industries with theater revenues dropping and many restaurants closing. It seems that these establishments could not make a profit without the sale of alcohol. The closing of the saloons, breweries, and distilleries led to the loss of many thousands of jobs; which in turn led to even more lost jobs for related trades such as barrel makers and truck drivers. There was the loss of tax revenues as states which relied on the taxes from the sales of alcoholic bevereges had to find other ways to fund their budgets. And then there was the question of increased corruption amongst law enforcement officers and government officials as the temptation of bribes or the opportunities offered by bootlegging increased daily. The resulting loss of public trust lasted for the duration.
However, the greatest unintended result was the most obvious. For more than a decade a law that was intended to promote temperance instead promoted intemperance. The very law with which the government had tried to address the problem of alcoholism had instead made that problem much worse.
In conclusion, Prohibition failed to do what it was intended to do, and the unintended consequences resulting from Prohibition far outweighed the few meager benefits that may have come from it.