Willis–Campbell Act

Willis–Campbell Act

The Willis–Campbell Act, also known as the Anti-Beer Bill, is a United States federal law that was enacted on November 23, 1921. The Act was named after its sponsors, Representative Frank B. Willis of Ohio and Senator Thomas E. Campbell of Arizona.

Overview

The Willis–Campbell Act was a piece of Prohibition legislation that sought to further restrict the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. It specifically targeted the use of beer as a medicinal substance, which had been a loophole in the Volstead Act that allowed physicians to prescribe beer for medicinal purposes.

Provisions

The Act made it illegal for any person to manufacture, sell, barter, transport, import, export, deliver, or furnish any intoxicating liquor except as authorized by the Act. It also prohibited doctors from prescribing beer or any other form of alcohol as a therapeutic treatment.

Impact

The Willis–Campbell Act effectively closed the loophole in the Volstead Act that had allowed for the medicinal use of beer. This led to a significant decrease in the legal consumption of alcohol during the Prohibition era. However, it also contributed to the rise of illegal speakeasies and the illicit trade in alcohol.

Repeal

The Willis–Campbell Act, like other Prohibition laws, was effectively repealed with the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933, which ended Prohibition.

See also

• Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• Prohibition in the United States
• Volstead Act