A Good Time for Beer

The Great Depression[lak]Great Depression, which began in the fall of 1929, created a new opening for Prohibition reform. Wet politicians emphasized the potential economic stimulus that beer’s return would provide. In addition to bringing much needed tax revenue to empty government coffers, it would create jobs for brewers, servers, and distributors, and create an outlet for the farmer’s grain. President Hoover[aut]Hoover, Herbert rejected these claims, causing hecklers to chant “we want beer[lak]We want beer” at many of his public appearances. The Democratic Party Platform[lak]Democratic Party Platform of 1932 explicitly endorsed modification of Prohibition to allow beer, and the “wet” Democrats won in a landslide that fall. Shortly after taking office, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked congress to immediately legalize beer and the Congressional debate that followed focused heavily on the economic benefits that legal beer would bring to the depressed economy. The “beer bill[lak]Beer Bill” passed and Roosevelt signed it on March 22nd. Beer that was up to 3.2% alcohol by weight (4% by volume) was set to become legal 15 days later.