The Anti-Prohibition Congress was held in Brussels in 1922.  Politicians from Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland attended.

The Congress was viewed as a threat to National Prohibition in the US. At the time, it had existed under two years.

Roy A. Haynes

Roy A. Haynes was head of the U.S. Prohibition Bureau.  He was very critical of the Anti-Prohibition Congress.

Haynes wrote that it was working with Count Albert de Mun. He said de Mun was “president of one of the largest champagne companies in France and formerly an extensive exporter to the U.S.”

Supposedly, de Mun gave  money and “the active support of a hundred million European advocates.” This was allegedly in an effort to repeal National Prohibition in the U.S. In spite of these assertions, neither he nor anyone else ever produced any evidence.

Anti-Prohibition Congress

With the passage of time it became increasingly clear in the U.S. that Prohibition was failing. But much worse, that it was counter productive. That is, it was worse than nothing. It was causing very serious problems.

Prohibition did this.

• • Promoted drinking in often dangerous illegal venues.
  • Led to the widespread production of moonshine. It sometimes contained toxins that caused blindness, paralysis and even death.
  • Contributed to the rapid growth of organized crime.
  • Promoted violence.
  • Led to massive corruption of public officials.
  • Resulted in disrespect for law.
  • Caused unemployment.
  • Reduced tax revenue.
  • Led to increased expenses for criminal justice.
  • And caused many other serious problems.

Learn more about both the positive and the negative effects of Prohibition.

Repeal

The views of the Anti-Prohibition Congress later found expression in Repeal. It ended National Prohibition in 1933.

Voters rejected Prohibition by three to one. Yet almost one in five adults in the U.S. today favors making it illegal for anyone to drink alcohol. Of any age. For any purpose.

Yet not even Prohibition outlawed drinking. In fact, millions of people drank legally during Prohibition. Learn what Prohibition made illegal and what it didn’t. You’ll be surprised!

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