Cheers to crime

The enforcement of Prohibition in the 1920s had many unintended side effects. Forced nationwide sobriety instantly labeled normally law abiding citizens as 'criminal' if they would enjoy a beer after a long day of hard work. Prohibition, therefore, did not sit well with many people and the continuous demand for alcohol drastically changed the position of the underworld and the gangster figure in American society drastically. 0Instead of diminishing crime, Prohibition caused crime to flourish. The government, and especially the understaffed and often corrupt police force, could barely suppress the ongoing crime and violence. Popular media exploited the growing violence and glorified both the gangsters and federal law enforcers, turning them into heroes. 0'Cheers to crime' describes the development of organized crime in the United States during the Prohibition era. It examines various criminological theories and the role of fictional crime in popular culture.