Prohibition

Prohibition was a period of about 14 years that took place throughout the 20's where the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcohol was prohibited. However, the consumption of alcohol was not disallowed, so many people - in anticipation of the law being put into effect - bought lots of alcohol and stockpiled it throughout prohibition. Alcohol was also allowed if prescribed by doctor. Naturally, many prescriptions were written during this time.
To make money, gangsters would hire men - called rumrunners - to smuggle rum from the Caribbean or hijack whiskey from Canada and bring it into the United States. Others would buy large quantities of alcohol made in homemade stills. The gangsters would then open up secret bars - speakeasies - for people to drink and socialize in. Many people were hired to enforce prohibition and raid speakeasies, however they were under-qualified and underpaid leading to a high rate of bribery.
Very quickly after the amendment was passed, people began trying to have it repealed. As time went on, more and more people joined the movement to have alcohol re-legalized. Many people argued that alcohol consumption is a local issue and not something that should be in the Constitution.
The beginning of the Great Depression influenced the decision to repeal the amendment greatly. People needed jobs and the government needed money. The re-legalization of alcohol would open up many new jobs for people and additional sales taxes for the government.
In 1933, the 21st Amendment was ratified, which repealed the 18th Amendment, making alcohol legal again. This was the first and only time in United States history that an Amendment has been repealed.

Prohibition