Jeffrey A. Miron and Jeffrey Zwiebel’s article about alcohol usage during the Prohibition Era is closely related to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. In the article, "Alcohol Consumption During Prohibition”, Miron and Zwiebel do a fantastic job of explaining the Prohibition Era and what exactly happened which allows the readers of Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, understand the novel so much better. Brendan Livingston’s academic journal, “Murder and the Black Market: Prohibition's Impact on Homicide Rates in American Cities”, talks about crime during this era and the increased homicide rate. With these three sources, we are able to understand a little better how and why alcohol consumption did not change during the Prohibition era in America and how alcohol consumption led to the deaths of many.

In Jeffrey A. Miron and Jeffrey Zwiebel’s article "Alcohol Consumption During Prohibition” the two dive into the topic of prohibition during the 1920’s and how bootlegging and speakeasies rose to success. In 1917, Congress established the Wartime Prohibition, National Prohibition later became established under the 18th Amendment. This law was in effect in the United States of America for about 14 years, when it was later repealed by the 21st Amendment in the early 30s. In the early stages of this new law, many civilians would agree that it was not successful in regards to lowering alcohol consumption. Although it made alcohol illegal, it did not eliminate it at all, it made consumers demand for more of it. Bootleggers distributed their product by selling it illegally to retail establishments called speakeasies. Law enforcement knew it was going on but were often times bribed out of getting them in trouble by gangs. Because of this no one respected law enforcement. During this era, doctors were also able to prescribe “medical liquor” to patients for many unrealistic symptoms. Because of all these loopholes, it was very easy for one to get their hands on liquor if they so desired. Many, if not all, of us have heard the saying “we always want what we can’t have”. And this old saying rings true in this example, now that the people aren’t legally allowed to consume alcohol, they will do anything and everything to get it, even if that includes partaking in illegal activity. 

In Brendan Livingston’s academic journal, “Murder and the Black Market: Prohibition's Impact on Homicide Rates in American Cities”, he talks a lot about when prohibition was enacted in each individual state and what kind of people were living in the area during that time. He later narrows in on the idea of increased crimes and homicides. He brings up the preconceived idea that if the intoxicated citizens were the ones committing crimes, like homicide, then prohibition would lower crime rates. While yes, that is a good idea, and some may have believed this to be possible, alcohol consumption only decreased during the year following the new law. After the first year, we no longer had as many inebriated criminals but we did have an increase in crime from business owners. Prior to making alcohol illegal, “when faced with a dispute over business matters, choose to resolve the dispute through the least-cost alternative of lawyers or violence,” (Livingston). But now that taking legal action was no longer an option, “only violence or other private sector mediation methods were available to business owners,” (Livingston). From this, we can infer that they would hire gang members or people looking for quick, easy money to take care of their problems for them. 

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, the novel is staged in New York during the 1920’s. This was just after the end of World War 1 and people were flooding from the smaller suburbs to the big cities to seek after a new and exciting life style. In the fictional novel, the protagonist, Jay Gatsby, becomes a bootlegger in the midsts of the Prohibition era and this is what later contributes to his extreme wealth. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby partners with pharmacies in order to continue selling alcohol to consumers, illegally, as well as hosting grand, extravagant parties where he also provided illegal substances to his guests. In doing this, he established a wide network and gained great popularity among members within the community. Gatsby came from a very poor family. So for Jay Gatsby personally, dreaming big and taking risks worked in his favor in the long run. With the increased demand for alcohol and consequences of bootlegging being so severe, Gatsby puts a lot at risk in order to gain Daisy Buchanan’s affection. Her husband, Tom Buchanan, accuses Gatsby of selling prohibited substances during a heated discussion during one of Gatsby’s party. And he then argues that Jay Gatsby’s partner, Meyer, was selling alcohol illegally in their drugstore. Although this seemed to be working just perfectly for Mr. Jay Gatsby, it unfortunately had to come to an end. Eventually, Gatsby is killed at the end of the novel by a man by the name of George Wilson. Wilson believed that Gatsby was the one having an affair with his wife Myrtle Wilson and that Gatsby killed her because of this and she was in fact killed by Gatsby’s car, but George Wilson does not know that Daisy was the one driving the car. Not everyone, unfortunately, has a happy ending and Gatsby’s life just seemed too good to be true.

The time period of Fitzgerald’s novel was crucial to Gatsby’s character. Without the Prohibition era, Jay Gatsby would have never become the person he became and would not have been financially capable of hosting such lavish parties in order to gain Daisy’s attention. Gatsby gets away with selling illegal substances because he keeps his personal life very private and often lies to keep his identity and reputation. This is important in making it big in such a secret, under cover occupation. Jay takes the opportunity to establish a bunch of drugstores in of achieving success, and while yes, it leads to a great deal of money, it also leads to his death.  Miron and Zwiebel’s journal, along with Livingston’s, truly help us dig deep in to the context of Fitzgerald’s thrilling and exciting novel. It reveals to the reader how people got away and found many loopholes in the Prohibition Era and how easy it was to avoid this law. Livingston’s article also exposes the readers to the sad reality of this law and the negative effects it had on others. Although Fitzgerald’s novel is fictional, it is based off of facts and historical context. The Prohibition era effected Gatsby and his character heavily and is a very beloved book in our society today.
