The National Prohibition Act of 1919 (more popularly known as the Volstead Act, ch. 85, 41 Stat. 305) enforced the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, dealing with the prohibition of alcohol. The Act is named for Representative Andrew Volstead (Republican from Minnesota), the sponsor of the Act.

In doing so, it defined the term "beer, wine, or other intoxicating malt or vinous liquors" to mean any beverage with greater than 0.5% alcohol by volume.

The 18th amendment was eventually repealed with the 21st amendment in 1933. This is the only Amendment ever to be repealed.

Legislative History

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The Act was passed by the United States Congress on October 28, 1919 over the veto by President Woodrow Wilson. It went into effect with the Eighteenth Amendment on January 16, 1920.

Prohibition was repealed in 1933.

External links

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• National Prohibition of Alcohol in the U.S.

1919 in law | Prohibition | United States federal legislation

Volstead Act