On January 16 every year, Prohibition Day is remembered.
The Prohibition Enforced stamp (US #3184c) was released on May 28, 1998, in Chicago as part of the Celebrate the Century 1920s series. This series highlighted important events from each decade of the 1900s. The stamp for the 1920s shows a police officer pouring alcohol down a drain. This picture represents the start of Prohibition, a time when making or selling alcohol was illegal in the United States.
Prohibition began on January 17, 1920, after the 18th Amendment was passed. Many people believed banning alcohol would help reduce crime and improve families’ lives. But instead, it created new problems. Illegal bars called “speakeasies” became common, and people found secret ways to make and buy alcohol. Organized crime groups also grew stronger by selling alcohol illegally. Prohibition ended on December 5, 1933.
The Prohibition Enforced stamp helps remind us of this unusual time in American history. By showing law enforcement in action, the stamp teaches us how the government tried to control alcohol use. Today, the stamp is popular with collectors because it captures an important moment from the 1920s and is part of a well-known stamp series.
References:
- United States Postal Service, Celebrate the Century: 1920s Stamp Series
- National Archives, “Prohibition: The 18th Amendment”
- Smithsonian National Postal Museum, Celebrate the Century Collection
- https://nationaltoday.com/prohibition-remembrance-day/
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