Prohibition Throughout the country it was a suprisingly sober night. The national binge, which was widely expected, did not take place. Even New York, a city prohibitionist considered a modern-day Gomorrah, was relatively sedate during the last hours of legal liquor on January 16, 1920.() This day in history began a period of sin and lawlessness known as prohibition. But this period in history just did not start during the early 1900’s; many events led to this very important decision to outlaw alcohol by the government. In the 1600’s and 1700’s, the American colonist drank large quantities of beer, rum