When Each State Went Sober: Mapping Prohibition Ratification by State [Map]

It took more than two years for Prohibition — a federal ban on the sale, production, transportation, and import of alcohol — to take effect nationwide on Jan. 17, 1920. Proposed by Congress on Dec. 18, 1917, the 18th Amendment was ratified on Jan. 16, 1919. But before that, it first had to pass in 36 of the nation’s 48 states (a three-quarter vote at that time), before becoming effective the following year.

As we come up on the 101st anniversary of the amendment that changed American drinking forever, VinePair took a nostalgic look down Constitution lane to revisit the days each state officially passed the ban on booze. Shockingly, we didn’t all jump on the wagon at once. While Southern states like Mississippi, Virginia, Kentucky, and the Carolinas were quick to ratify the amendment in early 1918, Northeastern states were slower to come around: New York, Vermont, and Pennsylvania waited until 1919 to pass the law, while New Jersey was last to ratify the amendment in 1922. That left two states: Connecticut and Rhode Island were the last standing, rejecting Prohibition even after it became federal law.

Check out the map below to see when (or if!) your state ratified Prohibition.

The 46 States that Ratified Prohibition (1918-1922)

All 48 United States were called upon to pass legislation that would lead to nationwide Prohibition, but not all of them signed up at once — or at all. These are the states that passed Prohibition starting Jan. 8, 1918 through March 9, 1922.

Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), 2014

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