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, wine, and hard cider.