Prohibition. Between 1919 and 1933 alcohol was illegal in the United States. This prohibition caused an explosion in crime as gangsters rushed to fill the demand for alcohol. Though the nation rejoiced when prohibition was repealed, there are still some areas that remain "dry". This means that you can't buy alcoholic beverages or can buy them only with difficulty. In some areas you can buy alcoholic beverages in a store but cannot be served them in a restaurant. In order not to offend the "temperance" or anti-alcohol viewers, many of whom are very religious, television beer commercials will not show people actually drinking beer. The actors confine themselves to holding their glasses up to the light to savor their appearance.

A Maze of Laws and Rules. Every American state and jurisdiction has its own set of rules, laws and taxes regarding sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. In the state of New York, as an example, you can buy beer in the supermarket, but not on Sunday mornings before noon. Wines and spirits, but not beer, are sold in liquor stores only, which are closed on Sundays. Other states sell all sorts of alcoholic beverages in supermarkets, while still other, more restrictive, states allow sales only from state-controlled stores.

The Alcoholic Beverage Industry. All kinds of alcoholic beverages are produced in the United States, or are imported. California is considered the best wine growing region, but other areas are now competing with it. Imported wines are also commonly consumed. America also produces excellent spirits, though the only truly native American spirit is bourbon. Illegally made whisky, or "moonshine," is popular in many areas. Scotch, American whisky and bourbon used to be very popular, but the king of spirits in America is now vodka.

Beer. America produces more beer than any other country. Though dozens of small "micro-breweries" produce excellent beer, the mass-produced beer most Americans drink is not particularly distinctive. Many distinctive local breweries were killed off by prohibition. A large group of Americans enjoy "home-brewing," producing their own beer for their own enjoyment.

The issue of "drunk driving" is important in America, given the American dependence on the automobile. Laws against "driving under the influence" (DUI or DWI) are becoming harsher. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is one of the major groups working in this area. Drunk driving, by the way, is a good example of a major social issue that is safe to bring up in conversation without running the risk of offending anyone.

Alcoholism. As in many countries, alcoholism is a major problem in the United States. Alcoholics Anonymous ("AA") is a prominent voluntary support program for alcoholics, and Alanon is a major organization for relatives of alcoholics.

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