We often forget context: alcoholism was an utterly rampant social malaise. It was everywhere, and affected everyone. Consider Winston Churchill used to drink 1

We often forget context: alcoholism was an utterly rampant social malaise. It was everywhere, and affected everyone. Consider Winston Churchill used to drink 12 ounces of hard booze a day. Underneath the House of Commons / Parliament in Canada, the used to be the 'bar' where people would go and get wasted every day - and a lot of official government business would happen! Canada's 'George Washington' - Sir John A MacDonald would drink 12 ounces-ish a day as well. Literally the first Prime Minster would disappear on several day binge benders and show up to Parliament so wasted he could hardly speak. Again: head of a nation. [1] The Prohibition movement was strongly associated with those leading the Feminist movements at the time, it was a matter of social justice, because drunk men were a serious problem in their potential violence, infidelity, absenteeism etc. "The Prohibition amendment prohibiting the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol would not have passed without the persistence of the women involved in the temperance movement starting in the 19th century. " [2] So I think we have to historically contextualize the issue a little bit differently that we would otherwise, now that we have alcoholism mostly under control, better public health, and I think a little more ability to handle such problems. It was a different time, with different problems. [1] https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/everyone-knows-john-a-macdonald-was-a-bit-of-a-drunk-but-its-largely-forgotten-how-hard-he-hit-the-bottle https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/everyone-knows-john-a-m... [2] http://prohibition.themobmuseum.org/the-history/how-prohibition-changed-american-culture/womens-rights/ http://prohibition.themobmuseum.org/the-history/how-prohibit...