drinking in America. Nothing could be further from the truth. Alcohol
consumption remained pretty much the same during the long dry years,
thanks to human ingenuity and the newly-emboldened mafia, who finally
found something they could make real money at here. About the only thing
that changed in America as a result of prohibition was the violent crime
rate, which rose drastically. A whole lot of people were hurt or killed
to keep the temperance movement in business.
There were many ways to get booze back then if you were looking:
importing it from Canada (Detroit was the highest volume importation
site, Canadian Club and Hiram Walker are just across the river), making
it in a still, going to an underground club, going to a Catholic mass,
getting some "Ginger Jake" or similar concoction from the corner store,
drinking "canned heat" or shoe polish juice strained through a sock. You
could also do something special and the government would give you some
drink in celebration, 25 cases of champagne were consumed at the big
party they threw for Lindbergh after his solo Atlantic crossing. And
there were many more solutions to this liquid censorship. Like that
squirrel in your yard dreaming up ways to get access to the bird feeder,
necessity is the mother of invention.
Probably my favorite loophole though was the use of prescriptions like
these. Sometimes you just needed some good whiskey to get you back on
your feet again. Your doctor wrote these prescriptions to the Sherriff,
who no doubt had access to the good stuff.
This one says:
Sheriff Oswald, Leprington,
This is to certify that Mr. Joe Hinnant is ill and needs some good
whiskey. Please send him the best you have.
Yours Truly,
A.L. Ballenger M.D.
11/1/28
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