SOC 3382 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Binge Drinking, Speakeasy, Standard Drink

• School: University of Houston
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 3382
• Professor: Graves

Document Summary

Benjamin rush: wrote a pamphlet titled an inquiry into the effects of ardent spirits on the mind and. Body : noticed a relationship between heavy drinking and jaundice, madness, and epilepsy, believed that hard liquor damaged drinkers" morality, referred to alcohol addiction as a disease. Later promoted total abstinence: became fashionable to take the pledge in the early 1800s. Federal prohibition: the 18th amendment banned the sale of alcohol, people still drank illegally, enforcement was challenging and expensive. Outcomes of prohibition: organized crime became more organized and profitable, alcohol dependence and alcohol-related deaths declined. 18th amendment was repealed by the 21st amendment in 1933. Reasons for the repeal: alcohol taxes had been a major source of revenue, concerns that widespread disrespect for the prohibition law encouraged a general sense of lawlessness. Outcomes of the repeal: alcohol per capita sales and consumption increased, alcohol consumption returned to pre-prohibition levels after world war ii.