A Cross-National Perspective on the Evolution of Alcohol Prohibition

Abstract

Despite alcohol being the earliest and most widely known of mood-altering substances, there have always been attempts to restrict and control its use. National prohibition of alcohol represents the most ambitious attempt to provide a legal framework for such restrictions. The present paper, following a comparative-historical approach, looks at the course of alcohol prohibition policies in two countries with differing ethnic backgrounds, religious orientations, and stages of economic development: the United States and India. Tracing the historical forces which shaped the prohibition policies in both the countries and their apparent lack of success, the paper identifies some common elements. Among the more important, though with situational variations, are the high degree of moralistic and patriotic fervor associated with prohibition efforts, the projection of guilts and fears of the proponents onto alcohol use, and aspects of culture conflict and opposing group interests. Dysfunctions introduced into the control system by socioeconomic changes resulted in prohibition being either abandoned or altered substantially in both countries.