Prohibition Begins with Volstead Act

Date: January 17, 1920 • Location: Washington, United States

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 1920–1933.

The Volstead Act went into effect, beginning the prohibition of alcohol in the United States.

The National Prohibition Act, commonly known as the Volstead Act, was an act of the 66th United States Congress designed to execute the 18th Amendment which established the prohibition of alcoholic drinks. The Anti-Saloon League's Wayne Wheeler conceived and drafted the bill, which was named after Andrew Volstead, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who managed the legislation.