A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.
On Dec. 5, 1933, national Prohibition came to an end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.
In 1917, Utah became the 24th state to adopt statewide alcohol restrictions. Then on Jan. 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, ushering in the national prohibition of “intoxicating liquors” and launching a highly unusual era of American history.
History notes that at the turn of the 20th century — nearly two decades before Congress ratified the 18th Amendment — about a quarter of the American population lived in “dry” communities where the sale of liquor was prohibited.
Though many Utahns supported prohibition much earlier, Utah became the 24th state to adopt statewide alcohol restrictions in 1917. Statewide laws had passed earlier, but some feared prohibition laws could reignite antagonism between Latter-day Saints and those who weren’t church members.
It was Jewish Democrat and newly elected Utah Gov. Simon Bamberger who finally signed statewide prohibition into law. Bamberger was a successful businessman who opened Utah’s Lagoon amusement park. In fact, Bamberger had voluntarily ended alcohol sales at Lagoon.
But on Dec. 5, 1933, at 3:33 p.m., Utah’s constitutional convention unanimously endorsed the 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment. Utah was the 36th and deciding state to vote in favor of overturning nationwide prohibition, ending the country’s dry era 13 years after it began.
As one can imagine, Utah’s ratification vote was followed with keen interest across the United States. Some saw an end to Prohibition as an end to gangsters, speakeasies and other illegal activity.
Here are some stories from Deseret News archives about Prohibition in Utah, the end of that era, and other interesting points in Utah history:
“5 surprising facts about Prohibition in Utah”
“‘Prohibition’ offers a complex look at a tumultuous time”
“Repeal of Prohibition was end of an era in Utah”
“House marks Utah’s role in repealing Prohibition”
“Utah town votes to keep alcohol ban despite tourist influx”
“Earliest ‘scofflaws’ violated Prohibition”
“About Utah: A toast to Utah’s ‘bizarre’ liquor laws”
“George F. Will: Prohibition taught valuable lesson about government interference”
