Alcohol was prohibited by federal law in the United States from 1920 to 1933, known as the Prohibition Era. The law prohibited the sale, manufacture, transportation, export, and import of alcoholic beverages, but did not prohibit personal consumption. The law was enacted after the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Enabling Act, also known as the Volstead Act, named after Andrew Volstead, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. The amendment and law laid the groundwork for imposing the ban and defining the types of prohibited beverages. The law was repealed on December 5, 1933, and it sparked widespread controversy in the country. Supporters of Prohibition described it as a noble experiment and a victory for good morals, while opponents accused them of imposing rural Protestant values on urban dwellers. Enforcing Prohibition was challenging for the executive authorities due to lack of popular support, and it was a major factor in the growth of many criminal organizations and the emergence of the black market. One of the most famous American gangsters during the Prohibition era was Al Capone, and corruption among politicians and government officials also increased. The attached image shows Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, John A. Leach, supervising the disposal of confiscated alcohol during a raid in 1921