Canada, like the United States, went through a brief period of prohibition between 1918 and 1920. During this time, the consumption of alcohol was prohibited, resulting in both positive and negative effects on the country. While there were potential advantages to this decision, the outcome heavily depended on how the population reacted. Although Canada managed to derive some benefits from prohibition, it ultimately faced detrimental consequences.
Despite the prohibition, the demand for alcohol led to a significant increase in organized crime and bootlegging. This created a difficult situation for police officers who had to work harder to catch those breaking the law. Additionally, individuals faced job losses and were pushed towards criminal activities due to the ban on alcohol. Furthermore, alcohol was being sold in a way that resembled illegal drugs such as Cocaine, LSD, Meth, etc.
Because alcohol was illegal, the drinks bought by the public were uncertain and unsafe. These drinks were often unreliable and potentially hazardous. Additionally, individuals affected by poisoned drinks couldn’t report them or receive necessary treatment, which was too expensive. The main reason for these problems was the widespread addiction to alcohol. Regrettably, those struggling with addiction couldn’t seek help for their drinking issues, making them vulnerable to future death caused by the unreliability of purchased alcohol.
The implementation of prohibition led to the permanent corruption of law enforcement, court systems, and politics. Organized crime gained power during this time and used methods like bribery, blackmail, and murder to silence resistance. They also manipulated elections and placed one of their members in a high authority position. Religious influences caused this scenario as the preaching hindered job opportunities, leading people to resort to criminal activities for their families’ support.
Due to accusations of involvement in the “devil’s work,” they encountered job difficulties. Various religious leaders backed the prohibition of alcohol, asserting that it would bring blessings and create a utopia in America. Unfortunately, this had an opposite effect, causing more harm than good and leading people to lose faith in religion while disregarding its teachings. It is ironic that prohibition, deemed a pivotal event in North American history, yielded such adverse outcomes.
In summary, prohibition in Canada had its fair share of failures, but it also brought about positive outcomes. Despite the increase in criminal activities and felonies, some individuals chose to contribute to society by seeking alternative employment. Additionally, it marked the end of exclusive male gatherings, allowing women to freely participate in parties, bars, clubs, and other social settings.
Regrettably, those mentioned above are essentially the only positive consequences of prohibition that do not involve alcohol. Despite the enforcement of prohibition, certain individuals remained resolute in their desire to persist in their prior activities. Instead of turning to criminal actions or seeking alternative employment, they opted to travel to foreign nations where they could continue their pursuits without any concerns. Consequently, as a result of these individuals, numerous beverages that were previously only available in North America were introduced to other countries, while the drinks of those countries were made known in North America upon the return of the bartenders following prohibition.
These individuals played a role in uniting multiple countries and fostering healthy relationships among them. Additionally, the prohibition era led to the popularity of car racing as people modified their vehicles to avoid law enforcement while selling illegal drugs. The development of car racing as a sport evolved from this period, although its origins are not widely known. Despite its disastrous and unpredictable consequences, prohibition did have one positive outcome for North America – it eroded respect for religious institutions that supported prohibition due to numerous failures and calamities.
While prohibition in Canada had some positive effects, such as fostering self-awareness and diminishing religious influence, it failed to fully eliminate persistent negative consequences. The detrimental impact of prohibition on law enforcement, the court system, and politics endured even after its repeal.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Prohibition had severe consequences for countless individuals, both financially and emotionally. Many experienced job loss, pushing them into lower-paying jobs or even criminal activities. As a result, people’s lives were significantly affected in different ways. Moreover, the lasting effects of Prohibition on attitudes towards the law were profound. There was a widespread lack of respect for the law due to its disregard by many individuals who considered it foolish and insignificant instead of serving its intended purpose of promoting societal well-being and protection.
Although Prohibition in Canada could have had potential positive effects, it ultimately had the opposite effect of promoting respect and obedience towards the law. The illegalization of alcohol did not benefit society. Nowadays, alcohol plays a significant role in society, making it impractical to ban it. Despite its potential benefits, the reaction of the people completely reversed the intended impact of prohibition. Although overall it may have been a disastrous idea, Canada still managed to derive great benefits from prohibition.
