why was the volstead act needed?

Question

If the eighteenth amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, etc. of alcohol, than what purpose did the volstead act serve?

Answer 1

The National Prohibition Act of 1919 (more popularly known as the Volstead Act, ch. 85, 41 Stat. 305) enforced the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibited the possession of alcohol. The Act is named for Representative Andrew Volstead (Republican from Minnesota), the sponsor of the Act.

In doing so, it defined the term "beer, wine, or other intoxicating malt or vinous liquors" to mean any beverage with greater than 0.5% alcohol by volume.

The Act was passed by the United States Congress on October 28, 1919 over the veto by President Woodrow Wilson. It went into effect with the Eighteenth Amendment on January 16, 1920.

Prohibition was effectively repealed in early 1933 by the passage of the Blaine Act which allowed "3.2 beer" (3.2% alcohol by weight, 4% by volume). The Twenty-first Amendment was ratified in December 1933, repealing the Eighteenth Amendment, and with it, repealing the Volstead Act.

Answer 2

Volstead Act

Answer 3

Why it was needed/why people thought it was needed:

Temperance movement especially in rural states
Anti Saloon League set up 1893
Husbands spending all money on alcohol - Women's Temperance Union 1893
Blamed for ruining families
Christians (huge group in America) said it was ungodly
Blamed for moral problems, crime, insanity and disease
A lot of beer was made my German companies in German breweries, so it was seen as "anti-American" (USA fought against Germany WW1)

Answer 4

1. It provided no penalty. 2. There was a question whether it applied to individuals absent legislation so applying it.