Prohibition began 100 years ago, and its legacy remains

DAVID CRARY AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — In this era of bottomless mimosas, craft beers and ever-present happy hours, it's striking to recall that 100 years ago the United States imposed a nationwide ban on the production and sale of all types of alcohol. The Prohibition Era, which lasted from Jan. 17, 1920, until December 1933, is now viewed as a failed experiment that glamorized illegal drinking, but there are several intriguing parallels in current times. Americans are consuming more alcohol per capita now than in the time leading up to Prohibition, when alcohol opponents successfully made the case that excessive drinking was ruining family life. More states are also moving to decriminalize marijuana, with legalization backers frequently citing Prohibition's failures. Many