preprohibition

Preprohibition refers to the period in the United States before nationwide prohibitions on the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcoholic beverages. It roughly spans the early 19th century up to the passage and implementation of the Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act in 1919–1920. The term is used to discuss the varied legal, economic, and cultural landscape that preceded nationwide prohibition.

During this era alcohol remained a significant commercial commodity, fueling industries such as brewing, distilling, and wholesale distribution. Saloons and taverns formed important social hubs in many cities, while immigrant communities contributed distinct drinking cultures. Taxation, regulation, and local option laws created a patchwork legal environment that differed from state to state and year to year.

Social reform movements, particularly temperance, sought to curb alcohol use on moral, religious, and public health grounds. The movement grew through the mid- to late 19th century, culminating in organized lobbying and the passage of laws in several states beginning with Maine in 1851. Proponents argued that reducing alcohol availability would lower crime, poverty, and family violence; opponents defended personal liberty and economic interests.

In the late Progressive Era, national conversations about alcohol policy intensified and laid the groundwork for nationwide prohibition. By 1919, legislative victories culminated in the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act, setting the stage for prohibition to begin in 1920. The preprohibition period thus encompassed a long debate about society, economy, and government authority over drinking.

Historians view preprohibition as a complex, contested era that shaped subsequent prohibition policy and postwar attitudes toward regulation and personal behavior.