I recently finished the title book by Fabian Franklin and it was a fairly intresting read arguing against Prohibition in the US while it was in effect. It brought up some points I have never considered, such as how the sheer disregard people had for it could damage people’s respect for the law overall, or how odd it is that we would have a law banning the sale of alcohol in the Constition, enshrined beside laws protecting freedom of religion or a persons right to vote. It also brought up strong feelings that “the more things change, the more they stay the same”. While American passenger ships were barred from selling alcohol, it was largely ignored. Passengers would have booked European ships if it had been enforced, hurting profits.
Does anyone have suggested reading on Prohibition? Or perhaps recommendations for books of a similar vain, touching on old history as they happened?
Unfortunately I don’t, but I’d like to say it is nice seeing others have interest in this American time period, as it fascinates me as well. I should give that book a read! A favorite saying of mine is “history doesn’t repeat itself but it sure as hell rhymes,” and we can learn a lot about the present from the past. It is so weird that the 18th amendment even passed, considering the amount of business behind it. Thinking about that happening again, with say, smoking, just seems like an impossibility due to lobbyists.
Definitely an interesting point about it damaging peoples respect for the law, i know my respect for the law is very low and the war on drugs is definitely part of that, as well as seeing how technologically illliterate many politicans are and how the law can be easily used to target certain groups for stupid reasons, while ignoring actually important issues like climate change
