Does prohibition include the banning of consumption of alcohol?

Answer 1

Legally banning alcohol consumption is generally known as alcohol prohibition. Interestingly, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that mandated national prohibition didn't actually prohibit the consumption of alcohol. It prohibited the production, importation, distribution and sale of alcohol - not its consumption. Therefore, many people hoarded alcohol before national prohibition was imposed and were legally able to consume it if not transported elsewhere.

The enabling act (Volstead Act) that defined the 18th Amendment and specified its specifics made exceptions so that alcohol could be bought for religious purposes and for medical purposes if prescribed by a physician.

Answer 2

Here's the actual text of the relevant part of the 18th Amendment:

"After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. "

As you can see, all it actually prohibited was making, selling or transporting liquor. It didn't make it illegal to use (drink) it. So if you already had a bottle of liquor, and you didn't sell it or carry it somewhere else, you weren't doing anything illegal.

Answer 3

National Prohibition in the US banned the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcohol but not its purchase or consumption.