When did national Prohibition begin and end in the United States?

Nationwide Prohibition in the United States began in 1920 and ended in 1933.12

The legal framework for this period was established by the Eighteenth Amendment, which was ratified in 1919 and took effect one year later, in January 1920. This amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes. Enforcement guidelines were provided by the Volstead Act, which was also enacted in 1919.123

Following widespread disenchantment with the policy—driven by issues such as the rise of organized crime and the economic challenges of the era—the federal government repealed the Eighteenth Amendment through the Twenty-first Amendment. This repeal was finalized on December 5, 1933, when Utah became the 36th state to ratify the amendment. While federal prohibition ended at this time, some states maintained statewide bans on alcohol for several years afterward.12