<P> Prohibition was a major blow to the alcoholic beverage industry and its repeal was a step toward the amelioration of one sector of the economy . An example of this is the case of St. Louis, one of the most important alcohol producers before prohibition started, which was ready to resume its position in the industry as soon as possible . Its major brewery had "50,000 barrels" of beer ready for distribution since March 22, 1933, and was the first alcohol producer to resupply the market; others soon followed . After repeal, stores obtained liquor licenses and restocked for business . After beer production resumed, thousands of workers found jobs in the industry again . </P> <P> Prohibition created a black market that competed with the formal economy, which came under pressure when the Great Depression struck in 1929 . State governments urgently needed the tax revenue alcohol sales had generated . Franklin Roosevelt was elected in 1932 based in part on his promise to end prohibition, which influenced his support for ratifying the Twenty - first Amendment to repeal Prohibition . </P> <P> Naval Captain William H. Stayton was a prominent figure in the anti-prohibition fight, founding the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment in 1918 . The AAPA was the largest of the nearly forty organizations that fought to end Prohibition . Economic urgency played a large part in accelerating the advocacy for repeal . The number of conservatives who pushed for prohibition in the beginning decreased . Many farmers who fought for prohibition now fought for repeal because of the negative effects it had on the agriculture business . Prior to the 1920 implementation of the Volstead Act, approximately 14% of federal, state, and local tax revenues were derived from alcohol commerce . When the Great Depression hit and tax revenues plunged, the governments needed this revenue stream . Millions could be made by taxing beer . There was controversy on whether the repeal should be a state or nationwide decision . On March 22, 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an amendment to the Volstead Act, known as the Cullen--Harrison Act, allowing the manufacture and sale of 3.2% beer (3.2% alcohol by weight, approximately 4% alcohol by volume) and light wines . The Volstead Act previously defined an intoxicating beverage as one with greater than 0.5% alcohol . Upon signing the Cullen--Harrison Act, Roosevelt made his famous remark: "I think this would be a good time for a beer ." </P> <P> The Eighteenth Amendment was repealed on December 5, 1933, with ratification of the Twenty - first Amendment to the U.S. Constitution . Despite the efforts of Heber J. Grant, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints, the 21 Utah members of the constitutional convention voted unanimously on that day to ratify the Twenty - first Amendment, making Utah the 36th state to do so, and putting the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment over the top in needed voting . </P>

When did alcohol become legal in the united states