Volstead Act

American  

noun

1. an act of Congress, introduced in 1919 by Andrew J. Volstead to implement the Eighteenth Amendment of the Constitution, which forbade the sale of alcoholic beverages.

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Example Sentences

But they finally got Al Capone for federal income tax evasion, not for murder, racketeering, or Volstead Act violations, so sometimes you have to pick the clear-cut legal case to put away a career criminal.

From Salon • Jun. 22, 2023

To prevent this, the Volstead Act held dominion not only over the land but also encroached on the kingdom of Neptune, prohibiting the consumption of alcohol up to 12 miles out to sea.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2022

Despite being named after the Prohibition-era Volstead Act and styled like a speakeasy, the bar is very much closed—and like many establishments in Florida, now faces an even more uncertain future.

From Slate • Jun. 30, 2020

Shortly thereafter, Congress passed the Volstead Act, translating the Eighteenth Amendment into an enforceable ban on the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and regulating the scientific and industrial uses of alcohol.

From Textbooks • Dec. 30, 2014

In one of the most bizarre aspects of the Volstead Act, veterinarians were also permitted to write out prescriptions for their four-legged patients.

From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler