The Lingering Shadow of Prohibition

On December 5, 1933, the long and difficult chapter of Prohibition finally came to an end. Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution, officially repealing the 18th Amendment that had attempted to ban alcohol nationwide. With that vote, Americans regained a personal freedom that had been lost for more than a decade. To this day, the 18th Amendment remains the only amendment that took away a freedom instead of guaranteeing a freedom.

This anniversary should serve not only as a reminder of those dark days, but also of the continuing pressures placed on personal liberty. Even today, there are efforts to restrict the right to enjoy alcoholic beverages. Some forget — or choose to ignore — the lessons of history and seem willing to repeat the mistakes of the past. Too often, biblical teachings are misinterpreted and the truth is bent to advance a particular agenda. Debates over regulation, responsibility, and personal choice continue, but history reminds us that sweeping bans often create more problems than they solve.

The effects of Prohibition are still felt across much of the United States. Concentrated mostly in the South and parts of the Midwest, “dry” areas continue to exist in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas, and Alabama. Even parts of Kentucky and Tennessee — despite their rich distilling heritage — retain Prohibition-era restrictions. The Prohibition Party itself remains active, though thankfully largely ineffective. Freedoms once lost are often slow to return.

Here in Virginia, we continue to live with the legacy of that restrictive era through the state’s three-tier alcohol regulations. After Prohibition ended, the Commonwealth chose to maintain tight control over hard spirits — and, just as importantly, a reliable source of revenue. Over the years there have been efforts to reform or modernize that system. There was a glimmer of hope for change when Senator Obenshain introduced a privatization bill in 2009, but it never made it out of committee. Governor McDonnell later floated his own proposal, ultimately limiting it to privatizing retail storefronts while keeping wholesale and distribution under state control — an approach that sounded bold but changed little in practice. That effort failed as well.

In the end, there is simply too much money tied up in taxes and state-run profits for Richmond to loosen its grip on the system. And the situation is unlikely to improve under incoming state leadership that tends to favor restrictions and taxation over personal choice and individual freedom.

So today, responsibly enjoy an alcoholic beverage and celebrate the gift of personal choice.

Cheers!