THE POLITICAL-ECONOMY OF PROHIBITION IN THE UNITED-STATES, 1919-1933

In spite of the variability of public policy toward drugs, relatively little attention has been devoted to providing positive explanations o f drug legislation or to identifying economic interests which have ben efited from such restrictions. With their general aim being to conside r the motivating factors behind variability in drug policy, the author s estimate econometric models of U.S. senatorial support for prohibiti on in 1917 and for repeal in 1933. Their results indicate that while t he commonly cited influence of public opinion clearly mattered, the sy stematic influence of the brewing/distilling industries and possibly u nderground suppliers can be detected in these votes.