This Day The Drinking Continues (1920) [Part 2]
Jan 15, 2026
Dive into Prohibition's chaotic enforcement as authorities struggled with loopholes and corruption. Discover the daring escapades of celebrity agents Izzy and Moe, and hear about the shocking consequences of the government's poisoning campaign. From homemade moonshine to medical loopholes for whiskey prescriptions, the underground drinking culture thrived. Explore the racial and class disparities in enforcement and how Prohibition influenced everything from organized crime to NASCAR. It's a wild ride through a fascinating chapter of American history!
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IRS Took Over Enforcement Without Policing Capacity
- Congress gave Volstead enforcement to the IRS because it already tracked and knew the alcohol industry infrastructure.
- The IRS lacked policing capacity, producing a rushed, undertrained prohibition unit prone to chaos and corruption.
Izzy And Moe: Celebrity Prohibition Agents
- Izzy Einstein and Moe Smith became celebrity prohibition agents using disguises and language skills to infiltrate saloons.
- They claimed 4,932 arrests and a 95% conviction rate before their high profile work drew internal pushback.
Legal System Overload Helped Undermine Prohibition
- Courts, jails, and local police systems collapsed under the flood of prohibition cases and enforcement demands.
- That overload contributed to growing criticism and later pressure to roll back prohibition policies.