Happy Repeal Day! Twitter Commemorates the End of Prohibition

On January 16th, 1919 the 18th amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, prohibiting the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States.” Congress subsequently passed the Volstead Act, which defined “intoxicating liquors,” and set down the penalties for violating the 18th amendment. So began Prohibition, the era of speakeasies, of Al Capone and Elliot Ness’s Untouchables.

The so-called “Noble Experiment” lasted thirteen years, during which time the 18th amendment and Volstead Act proved wildly unpopular and extremely difficult to enforce. It ultimately came to an end on December 5th, 1933 when Utah became the last state to ratify the 21st amendment, which repealed the 18th amendment and re-opened the way for the manufacture, sale, import, and export of alcohol within the US. A snapshot of the New York Times front page can be seen below:

Many people took to Twitter to commemorate the event and to encourage their followers to celebrate the event.

The National Archives posted a link to the text of FDR’s proclamation of the repeal:

While another user posted the New York Times front page seen above:

Six Row Brewing Company in St. Louis celebrated by offering a special deal on one of their beers:

Others marked the event by encouraging readers to be extra generous to their bartenders…

Others encourage their followers to support the smaller-scale distillers, vintners, and craft brewers.

Others had a variety of recommendations for marking the event.

One user noted one of the many costs of the failed “Noble Experiment.”

While others simply took to Twitter to express their celebration.