Prohibition in the United States and the experience of forced sobriety in the USSR

click fraud protection

term "prohibition" called the ban (total or partial) of turnover of alcohol-containing substances.

Prohibition in the United States

In the period from 1920 to 1933 in the United States operated a ban on the sale, transportation and production of alcohol.Prohibition in America, was introduced after the adoption of the Eighteenth Amendment to the US Constitution.Outlaw were announced as possession of alcohol and its consumption.The ratio for a ban on alcohol in American society was twofold.On the one hand, supporters of the law perceived it as a victory for morality and health.The undoubted success was the reduction of alcohol consumption in half in 20 years, which remained below the level corresponding to the period preceding the ban until 1940.On the other hand, opponents of the law ("wet") criticized the ban, calling it an invasion of rural Protestant ideals in various aspects of life of the citizens, immigrants and Catholics.Despite the positive results of prohibitive legislation, negative consequences for the country was immeasurably greater, allowing opponents of the law after 13 years to ratify the Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the unpopular prohibition law in America.One of the unfortunate outcome was a significant increase in the number of criminal groups.Statement for the first time said the American mafia.Numerous criminal organizations profiting from the smuggling, illegal production and distribution of alcohol.Anti-alcohol measures had a negative impact on the economy.Prohibition marked by impetuous growth of corruption in the police and among politicians.

sad experience of the USSR forced sobriety

conducted anti-alcohol campaign in the Soviet Union is an extremely unpopular among the population, government measures to fight for the reduction of consumption of alcoholic beverages.Last campaign remained in people's memory, entitled "Prohibition of Gorbachev."Gorbachev initiated the struggle against drunkenness immediately after coming to power.Established in 1985, the situation in Soviet society demanded decisive action, since alcoholism in the country has reached the scale of a national catastrophe.Prohibitive measures have been taken, which resulted in significantly improved sober population demographics, increased life expectancy of the male population, reduced the number of crimes committed while intoxicated.However, the prohibition of alcohol in the Soviet Union, as well as the prohibition in America, led to the economic decline.The lack of income from the sale of alcoholic beverages in a short time led to a deficit budget.Lawmakers expect, of course, a different effect, but were kilometer queue in stores, numerous cases of alcohol-poisoning chemicals flourishing brewing, underground production of alcohol.In the mass consciousness of anti-alcohol campaign was seen as absurd decision of the authorities directed against the "common people", forced all the way to "get" the alcohol, are still available for the party and economic elite.However, the country's leaders have been known to some disappointing results led Prohibition in America and Finland.It remains a mystery why initially doomed to failure limiting alcohol consumption by administrative measures the head of state seemed the only correct solution to the problem of alcoholism.