Rum Patrol

Rum Patrol was a unit of the United States Coast Guard established in 1920 during the Prohibition era to prevent the importation of rum and other alcoholic beverages into the United States. The patrol was active until the end of Prohibition in 1933.

History

The Rum Patrol was established in response to the widespread smuggling of alcoholic beverages into the United States following the enactment of the Volstead Act in 1919, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. The patrol was initially composed of a small number of cutters and aircraft, but it expanded significantly over the years as the smuggling operations became more sophisticated and widespread.

Operations

The primary mission of the Rum Patrol was to intercept vessels smuggling alcoholic beverages into the United States. The patrol operated along the East Coast of the United States, from Maine to Florida, and in the waters off the West Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. The patrol also operated in international waters, where it had the authority to board and search any vessel suspected of carrying contraband.

Legacy

The Rum Patrol is considered a precursor to the modern United States Coast Guard's law enforcement and maritime interdiction missions. The patrol's use of aircraft and small, fast boats to intercept smugglers was innovative for its time and laid the groundwork for modern Coast Guard operations.

See also

• Prohibition in the United States
• United States Coast Guard
• Volstead Act