American Prohibition, a French Windfall

• Documentary

Episode overview

December 5, 1933, marked the end of the "Volstead Act", which prohibited Americans from drinking, importing or selling alcohol. During twelve years of prohibition, the hub of trafficking in North America, the small colony of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, experienced incredible growth. French products, champagne in particular, were popular across the Atlantic. This providential windfall benefited the French economy. The successive French governments during this period did everything they could to promote this trade, to the great displeasure of the Americans.

54 minutes