American Congress Stiffens Alcohol Prohibition

Police display illegal brewing equipment in Detroit.
(AP Photograph)

Since January of 1920, Prohibition - the American "Noble Experiment" - has banned the manufacture, sale or distribution alcoholic beverages anywhere within the United States. Not content to simply make alcohol trafficking illegal, the United States banned it by Constitutional Amendment, in effect giving the ban a power above the law. In the decade since, the ban has lead to a huge industry, allegedly dominated by organized crime syndicates, to supply Americans with alcohol. But the American Congress seems determined to press ahead with enforcement anyway.

On January 22nd of this year a new “dry bill” was introduced to the US Congress by Senator Alban Bryant of Kentucky. The purpose of this bill was to place stiffer penalties on both buyers and sellers of alcoholic beverages. Those who possessed liquor would receive a fine for the first offense between $50.00 to $500.00. Those who were caught a second time with liquor on them would be fined $250.00 to $2,000.00. Additionally, an effort is being made by the State of New Mexico to make it a crime to buy liquor. The possession of liquor for personal use by those in a state political office would also be prohibited pending the passing of new legislation.