KOJO NNAMDIIn 2019, D.C. consumed the most alcohol in the nation, per capita. However, 100 years ago this month, Prohibition went into effect, banning the production, sale, import and transport of alcoholic beverages all across the country. The existence of speakeasies and bootleggers during the Prohibition era is well-known, but the roles played by Maryland, Virginia and the District in the rise and fall of Prohibition and the impact on the criminal justice system, mental health and women's rights are lesser-known.

KOJO NNAMDIHere to discuss the history of Prohibition and how this region played a role in it is Michael Lowe. He is the founder of New Columbia Distillery. Michael, good to see you again.

MICHAEL LOWEGood to see you, Kojo.

NNAMDIAnd Garrett Peck, who is the author of "Prohibition in Washington, D.C.: How Dry We Weren't.” Garrett used to be a frequent guest on this broadcast. Haven't seen you for a few years. Welcome. Good to have you back.

GARRETT PECKThanks so much, Kojo.

NNAMDIGarrett, let me start with you. What was Prohibition?

PECKProhibition was a national, social reform movement to try to get Americans to sober up and become more of a middle-class and responsible people. So, this was a century-long social reform movement that ultimately gave us the 18th Amendment that banned the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol in 1920.

NNAMDIMichael Lowe, was alcoholism a national problem at that time?

LOWEIn the 19th century, it was definitely considered a national problem, and on into the beginning of the 20th century. The Prohibition and temperance movement seemed to be mostly interested in preventing abuses of alcohol and family violence, and so on. And part of the progressive movement was to eliminate alcohol as a family disrupter.

NNAMDIGarrett, as Michael just mentioned, the temperance movement was in part a reaction to the drinking habits of the time, but was the movement reacting to anything else?

PECKActually, it had a lot of different things it was reacting to. Certainly, this was a progressive movement, we also need to consider. So, this was kind of the peak of the Progressive Era, and probably the last big change, along with women getting the vote. And that kind of ended the Progressive Era. Initially, it was really led by women who were tired of all the domestic violence that was going on. Husbands, especially, were going out to saloons, getting drunk, coming home and committing a lot of domestic violence against their families.

PECKSo, this is why women really had a stake in ending drinking in the country. And thus, as well, women banded together for the temperance movement, but also with the suffragists. And thus, you saw both Prohibition going into effect in 1920, and also women getting the vote in 1920. That's not an accident. That happened for a reason.

NNAMDIWhat was, Michael, the nation's response to Prohibition?

LOWEProhibition was effective, in part, sort of nationwide in reducing alcohol consumption by about two-thirds during the first couple of years of Prohibition. But very quickly thereafter, people started going back to their old habits. And by late in Prohibition, alcohol consumption had gone up to about two-thirds of what it was before Prohibition went into effect. And then shortly after Prohibition ended, the rates of consumption were essentially the same as before Prohibition.

NNAMDIGarrett, what was the District's response to Prohibition?

PECK(laugh) D.C. had no home rule, unfortunately. So, on November 1st, 1917, Congress simply mandated that D.C. was now a dry city. They intended the city to be the, quote, "model dry city" for the rest of the country. And it's so funny, because before Prohibition started, there were 267 licensed saloons. And then once Prohibition starts, D.C. gets about 3,000 speakeasies. And then even Congress employs its own bootleggers. So, it was widely disregarded here, thanks to having no home rule.

NNAMDICongress imposed the law on the District, even as it employed its own bootleggers.

PECKExactly. Yeah, it was called the Shepherd Act.

NNAMDIWhat about Maryland? How did Marylanders respond to Prohibition?

PECKI think Maryland's so interesting. The state was similar to many other states that had a large Catholic population. And Catholics realized that Prohibition was really targeted at them. So, Maryland is one of those states that actually never passed a Prohibition enforcement act. And this is actually where Maryland earns its unofficial nickname, which is the free state, because liquor flowed freely across its borders.

NNAMDICan you talk about the enforcement of Prohibition? Maryland may not have wanted to enforce it, but how did the federal government impose the rules that they created?

PECKThe federal government set up the Prohibition Bureau, initially funded by about $5 million and 1,500 agents to patrol the entire country. I mean, these guys were woefully naïve about (laugh) the obstacle that Prohibition -- the challenges that Prohibition placed upon the country. And, of course, with the bribery and everything else that was going on, it just became just an epidemic of corruption here in our country.

NNAMDISpeaking of which, here is Calvin in Silver Spring, Maryland. Calvin, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.

CALVINHi. I have a couple of questions. Ever since college -- you know, I'm 70 years old. Ever since college, I heard one of my economics professors say that Prohibition actually led to the ascendancy of organized crime here in America. And I want to know if that is true, or is that just something that is a piece of urban legend.

CALVINThe other question I have is that when Prohibition was enacted through federal legislation, was there any attempt to recognize that, potentially, there would be a need for rehabilitative services for those individuals who were -- you know, habitual drinkers? I'm just wondering, because, you know, today, for example, with the legislation regarding the passage of marijuana acts, such as in Colorado, that is supposed to be part of the legislation, is medical supportive services for those that, you know, may become addicted.

NNAMDIWell, as regards to the second part of your question, Garrett Peck, it's my understanding that during the time of Prohibition, people who drank excessively were simply referred to as drunkards, and not called alcoholics. So, at the time, treatment was not a priority.

PECKThat's correct. We didn't really get any kind of science around addiction until the late 1930s. There was a scientist named Jellinek who started finally studying addiction. But, beforehand, it was simply just, you know, if you were a drinker the temperance movement thought you were on the path towards drunkenness.

NNAMDIHow about organized crime, the caller's question?

PECKYes. Your professor was actually accurate on his statement or her statement. You've heard the name Al Capone, so, the most famous gangster in world history. And he largely made his money by being a bootlegger. So, yes, absolutely, Prohibition rolled out the welcome mat for organized crime. You saw it here in D.C. We didn't have so much like the mob or the Irish mob or Italian mafia, or anything like that. But you certainly saw that, like, in New York City, Detroit, Chicago, etcetera. It was a huge, huge problem. And, of course, along with that came gangland warfare, territorial disputes and, of course, corruption and bribery.

NNAMDIMichael, what were the drinking habits like back then?

LOWEWell, it seems like, by and large, Americans, before Prohibition and after Prohibition, drank roughly the same portions of spirits, wine and beer. Now, it's changed somewhat. There's much more wine being consumed now, and over the last 20, 30 years, than there was before. And spirits have increased. And I think actually Prohibition had a lot to do with increasing the interest in spirits, because when it's illegal, having something that's more concentrated and easier to transport -- like spirits, as opposed to beer, which is very dilute -- you know, definitely pushed people in the direction of drinking more spirits, because they could be hidden better.

NNAMDIWe mentioned the speakeasies that allowed people to secretly buy and sell alcohol. If there were, prior to that, about 267 establishments, and then there were 3,000 speakeasies, does that suggest it was much easier to buy alcohol during Prohibition than it was before?

PECKCertainly, the access to alcohol was a big factor. There were so many more players, because all Prohibition really did was to deregulate the alcohol market. So, if you, as a citizen, wanted to take the risk of getting arrested, you could certainly open up a speakeasy. And these were largely in people's apartments and homes. There's a few sites that are around the D.C. area that you can still go check out. But the alcohol got much more expensive, which is why we actually did, in fact, see Americans drinking less during Prohibition, because they simply just couldn't afford to get drunk anymore.

NNAMDIWhere were the go-to spots in this area for procuring a good drink?

PECKMost of the alcohol we got in the D.C. area came down from Baltimore. Good job, Baltimore, feeding D.C. And some spots you can still see in Washington, D.C. itself, there is a place on Connecticut Avenue just south of DuPont Circle. It's a bar today, called the Dirty Martini. But, back then, on the top floor, the fourth floor, was a very high-end bar and casino known as the Mayflower Club. It took its name from the Mayflower Hotel, right down the street. And the police raided that place three times, at the very end of Prohibition, the very last time with pick axes, to demolish the place.

PECKAnd then, on K Street, there's another landmark place. K Street used to be all, like, these two- and three-story brick houses. And today, o course, it's all office buildings but there's one building that is still there. If you want to go there, you'll need to bring your dollar bills, because it is a strip club. And that is Archibald's Gentlemen's Club. And that was a speakeasy during Prohibition. (laugh)

NNAMDIAlmost the same now. (laugh) Michael Lowe, can you explain the process of creating or getting bootlegged liquor?

LOWEWell, bootlegged liquor was a couple different things. Bootlegging was basically retailing illegal liquor. And so, the bootleggers would get their goods either from moonshiners -- people who are illegal manufacturers, and in this area they would often get their supplies from Virginia or Maryland in the western parts of the state -- or they would buy actual, real liquor that was brought in from Canada or from Europe.

LOWEAnd there were sort of mixtures of those two different ways of operating. But, basically, the bootlegger would be the supplier to the people who didn't want to give up their alcohol just because the federal government said they should.

NNAMDIGarrett Peck, there was also something called Rum Row?

PECKYes. There were actually two different Rum Rows. The one that was here in D.C. was essentially right next to where the National Theater is. And that was where most of the great bars in D.C.'s history were, including Shoemakers, where the Ricky was invented in the 1880s. So, right around the corner from where the National Press Club is. So, it's now the site of the J.W. Marriott.

PECKThe other big Rum Row was during Prohibition itself, and that essentially was the coastline, the Atlantic coastline, was this line of ships that sort of docked outside of the three-mile, and later 12-mile limit, full of alcohol. And these little speedboats would come out at night and load up on alcohol, then speed back to the coast, trying to evade the Coast Guard.

NNAMDIMichael, were there any famous bootleggers in this area?

LOWEWell, at least one sort of sticks out in history, a fellow by the name of George Cassidy, who was known as the man in the green hat. And he was the bootlegger to Congress. So, while congress was enforcing Prohibition on the rest of the country, George was selling illegal booze, by his own count, to 80 percent of senators and congressmen.

NNAMDIThat's what inspired your own Green Hat gin?

LOWEYes, indeed. The man in the green hat is sort of...

NNAMDIAnd Green Hat whiskey?

LOWEYes. Only-in-Washington kind of story, and so we thought he deserved a little greater appreciation. We learned about him from Garrett's book, and decided it would be a great brand for Washington-made spirits.

NNAMDIAn inspiration. Here's Bill, in Northwest Washington. Bill, your turn.

BILLYeah, John Kelly did some research for us a couple of years ago.

NNAMDI(overlapping) John Kelly of the Washington Post, yes.

BILLFrom the Washington Post, yeah. He did a story that we bought this house up in -- it actually sits in Rock Creek Park, but it was run by -- owned by bootleggers. And they were putting away 650 gallons of whiskey a day before they were busted. And then when they busted them, before they could take the house, the guys gave the house to the Catholic Church. And for the next six decades before we got it, they had priests and nuns living in there, but it still had all the remnants of the old liquor operation.

BILLAnd even those guys, they were from Baltimore, because, you know, according to the news stories that he gave us from the time, D.C. did not have an organized crime family. So, they brought in a family from Baltimore that produced liquor in our house on Madison Street, as well as another house that was actually on Chevy Chase Parkway.

NNAMDIFascinating story. Thanks for sharing it. Here's Jay, in Washington. Jay, your turn.

JAYYeah, thanks. Fascinating show. I had read recently that a big part of Prohibition was motivated politically by the desire to control the German American, sort of the beer unions, and that there was some concern that the brewers had gained too much political power. I had read that, like, minutes from meetings were held in German, and things like that. And I just wondered if you had any illumination on what...

NNAMDIGarrett Peck?

JAY...some of the political backstory might be to Prohibition. And I'll take my answer off the air.

NNAMDIThanks.

PECKWell, thank you. The key reason why we got Prohibition to begin with was because of World War I. And this is the moment where the main temperance organization, called the Anti-Saloon League, leveraged the fact that we declared war against Germany. And the Germans were the single big -- German-American were the single-biggest ethnic group in the country at the time, and they were also the brewers.

PECKSo, they were the single biggest obstacle to the temperance movement. And as soon as we declared war against Germany, the ASL spins up its propaganda machine, and they spin beer drinking into treason. And every single German-American suddenly is potentially a seditionist, and so on. And so it really threw the German-American community back on its heels, and thus, essentially, we get the 18th Amendment, as a wartime measure. This is how it passes.

NNAMDIWhy did the nation get rid of Prohibition? What caused its end?

PECKThe 18th Amendment that gave us Prohibition was created in a crisis, World War I. But it took another major crisis to undo Prohibition, which was the Great Depression. And once the Great Depression started, everyone started looking back on Prohibition and realizing, gosh. We lost a quarter million jobs in 1920, when Prohibition went into effect. And, suddenly, in 1930, 1932 a quarter million jobs looks really good. So, the Democrats, of course, seize upon this issue, and they begin running, then, on the repeal platform.

NNAMDIAnd the rest, as they say, is history. But what about the present, Michael Lowe? What drinking trends are we seeing today, and how do the trends compared to 100 years ago?

LOWEWell, as I mentioned earlier, spirits have increased, and wine. But, over the decades, American tastes have gradually changed. During the '50s, '60s, we became a little bit more sophisticated in our tastes. At the same time during that period, there was a big move to industrialization. And those two trends, I think, sort of bumped into each other during the '60s. And people became more interested in non mass-produced products. And that began with wines on the West Coast, moved into beers in the '70s, '80s, '90s, and then distilling in the '90s and into the 2000s. So, many more varieties being produced by smaller makers.

NNAMDIHence the popularity of the craft beer industry and the popularity of distilleries in this region today. Michael Lowe, he's the founder of one. It's called the New Columbia Distillery. Thank you so much for joining us.

LOWEYou're certainly welcome, Kojo.

NNAMDIGarrett Peck is author of "Prohibition in Washington, D.C.: How Dry We Weren't." Garrett Peck, always a pleasure.

PECKCheers, Kojo.

NNAMDIThis segment about Prohibition in the Washington region was produced by Richard Cunningham. And our conversation about local efforts to contain the coronavirus was produced by Monna Kashfi. Mark your calendars for the next Kojo In Your Community conversation about changing immigration policies and their impact on local students and families. It's on February 25th, at the Columbia Heights educational campus. Learn how to get tickets and more at kojoshow.org.

NNAMDIJoin us tomorrow, when we talk with Brother Andrew, the Catholic University seminary student who won “The Great American Baking Show.” Plus, solar panels and historic preservation, what happens when they clash? That all starts tomorrow, at noon. Until then, thank you for listening. I'm Kojo Nnamdi.