Prohibition Hangover-- Part 3: No 'Intoxicating Liquor' Over 0.5% and Some Successes

By the time the constitutional amendment was ratified in January 1919, many states had enacted their own prohibition laws.  That October, Congress passed a law detailing how the federal government would enforce Prohibition.  

It was known as the Volstead Act in recognition of its foremost champion, Representative Andrew Volstead of Minnesota.  The law banned the manufacture, sale and transport of any "Intoxicating liquor" -- beverages with an alcohol content of more than 0.5%, including beer and wine.

Statistically, Prohibition was not an utter failure.  Deaths from alcohol-related cirrhosis declined as did arrests for public drunkenness.

--CootDrink

A Drunk Driver Finds Himself Between a Fence and a Fire Hydrant in 1942

From the October 18, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

"Police department officials had something new to look after while cruising in the squad car, and one that required some dexterity on the part of the city street department workmen to extricate the automobile of a Cortland man.

"From information available, the Cortland man had spent much of the day in taverns and as he attempted to return home, turned the wrong corner and found himself on a dead-end street and the next thing he had driven his machine between a fence and a fire hydrant, the rear of his machine hooked onto a fire plug.

"He endeavored to release his car and threw enough dirt with the back wheels to resemble an early spring plowing task."

Don't Drink and Drive.

Oops.  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: Drinking His Life Away

From the December 7, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back."

1916, 100 Years Ago.

"Martin Garrity, of Haish Avenue, who for the last two or three months has been an intermittent visitor at the police station Monday mornings for imbibing too freely, was hauled in again yesterday on the same charge and also another for cruelty treating his family.

"The matter has been brought to the attention of the authorities so many times in the past that they are losing all patience, as each and every time the offender promises to refrain from the stuff, but never does it.

"This time, however, the presiding judge handed him a fine of $25 and costs for drunkenness.

So, DeKalb Had Its Own Otis.  --CootDrunk