| In 1851, Maine became the first state to pass a state prohibition law, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of "spiritous or intoxicating liquors" not intended for medical or mechanical purposes. By 1855, 13 of the 31 states had such laws. However, the looming Civil War distracted attention from Prohibition and many of the early state laws were modified, repealed, or ignored, and for years few restraints were placed on manufacturing or selling anything alcoholic. |