Prohibition Guidelines: Two government-issued booklets on enforcement efforts. 1930

Item Details

1930, stapled wrappers

Fine

Initiated with the passage of the 1919 Volstead Act & enforced by the 18^th Amendment in 1920, prohibition became the law of the land in the United States for over a decade. However, public support of & compliance with the act were severely waning by the end of the 1920s. These booklets were two in a series of monographs issued by the Bureau of Prohibition within the U.S. Treasury Dept in 1930 an attempt to rally the citizenry & convince all those who “have at heart the interest of home, family, & community” the practical value of supporting the government in its efforts to ban the manufacture, transport, use, & sale of alcoholic beverages. Despite actually having an impact & reducing American drinking, the rise in organized crime linked to Prohibition led to its ultimate repeal nationally with the passage of the 21st amendment in 1933.

Booklet #1: Public Cooperation in Prohibition Law Enforcement: Business, Civic and Industrial Groups Aid in Promoting Better Observance and Enforcement of the Law.’’ 64 pages, 2-staple binding. Light blue wrappers lettered & ruled in black to front. Describes the involvement of the railroads, realtors & property owners, the chemical manufacturing industry, civic leaders, business owners, & citizens, & others.

Booklet #2: State Cooperation in the Enforcement of National Prohibition Laws.” 70 pages, 2-staple binding. Light khaki green wrappers lettered & ruled in black to front. Compares state & national prohibition efforts, with lengthy sections on New England, Pennsylvania, & New York (state & city), with a review of relevant legislation & court cases. 

Both booklets are in Fine condition: clean, bright, as if never opened.