There are many ways in which prohibition of alcohol consumption in the United States of America, damaged the very economic and social aspects of American culture, that it was designed to heal. "Prohibition did not achieve its goals. Instead, it added to the problems it was intended to solve." On 16th January 1920, one of the most common personal habits and customs of American society came to a halt. The eighteenth amendment was implemented, making all importing, exporting, transporting, selling and manufacturing of intoxicating liquors absolutely prohibited. The intent of Prohibition was to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed, which in turn would reduce: crime, poverty, death rates, and help the economy. Unfortunately, the lofty goals of Prohibition were not achieved. The law was rendered ineffective because it was unenforceable. Instead of creating a better way of life for Americans, it caused various social and economical problems such as: the explosive growth of organized crime, increased liquor consumption, massive murder rates and corruption among city officials. The rise in crime coupled with the economic down turn called for a new method in combating these problems from a law enforcement standpoint. .
Prohibition was doomed from the start because it was almost impossible to control .
the large flow of illegal liquor from various countries, mainly Canada. "Bootleggers smuggled liquor from oversees and Canada, stole it from government warehouses, and produced their own." The newly established Federal Prohibition Bureau had only 1,550 agents, and with 18,700 miles of vast and virtually unpoliceable coastline, it was nearly impossible to prevent immense quantities of liquor from entering the country. Roughly 5% of smuggled liquor was ever actually captured and seized from the hands of the bootleggers. Bootlegging became a very competitive and lucrative market with the adaptation of prohibition.