Well, I Laughed 140: Hold My Beer [Man's Best Friend pt.2: Prohibition]
Feb 4, 2026
A lively dive into the rise and fall of alcohol prohibition in the United States. They trace early temperance roots, militant tactics like Carrie Nation's, and the social forces—race, class, religion—that pushed dry laws. Hear about bootlegging, moonshine culture, organized crime, and how repeal unfolded and reshaped drinking culture.
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Carrie Nation’s Hatchet Activism
- Carrie A. Nation personally enforced prohibition by entering saloons and smashing bottles with a hatchet, and was arrested repeatedly.
- Grant summarizes her activism, founding shelters and claiming divine instruction while leading the Carrie Nation Prohibition Group.
Prohibition Was Shaped By Race And Class Motives
- Regional motives for prohibition differed: Southern bans often targeted Black people, northern bans targeted immigrant drinking cultures, and Midwestern Lutherans resisted for religious reasons.
- Grant emphasizes racism and classism shaped who prohibition actually punished and who retained access.
War Made Passage Politically Easier
- World War I removed political brakes on prohibition by silencing German-American opposition, creating a favorable window for constitutional change.
- Grant notes wartime anti-German sentiment reduced immigrant political resistance to the 18th Amendment.