ÃÂThe U.S. Surgeon Generals report ÃÂHealthy People,ÃÂ indicates that thirty percent of all deaths in the United States are premature because of alcohol.ÃÂ How do alcohol problems get started? Not too many years ago alcoholics were regarded as evil, immoral, or even, both. It is now recognized that these persons suffer from very complicated diseases including complex biological, psychological, and social problems. I am interested in learning about alcoholism because I want to find how alcohol affects people and why people choose to experiment with it.
There is a lot of history behind alcoholism. It all started with the prohibition, which began in the 1820ÃÂs. The prohibition movement dealt with the minimum or moderate use of alcohol. Over the next twenty years the prohibition movement gained strength. The movement succeeded in establishing prohibition laws in thirteen states, but in 1865 they were repealed. In 1919 the U.S. Congress adopted the eighteenth amendment which prohibited the manufacture, importation, exportation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the U.S.
A Kranz (wreath) of Kölsch beer.
English: Total recorded alcohol per capita consump...
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Prohibition went in to effect in 1920. There were some handicaps to prohibitions. It was nearly impossible to enforce the laws provisions; the law did not prohibit the purchase or use of alcoholic beverages. During the 1930ÃÂs there was pressure to end prohibition. When Roosevelt became president in 1933, the twenty-first amendment passed once again made liquor legal. Alcoholism was not yet considered a medical disorder and disease. It was not the responsibility of health officials. In 1935 Bill Wilson, a stockbroker, and Dr. Bob, a physician, created a twelve step program, alcohol anonymous. A support group fro alcoholics. Another support group fro alcoholics is MADD, mothers against drunk driving. This was an important movement because it decreased the alcohol use in the 1800ÃÂs to the early 1900ÃÂs.