Dry law
Hi everyone!

Could someone please tell me, is there a specific way in English to refer to a ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages? In Russian we have the term "сухой закон" (lit. "dry law"), but the English Wikipedia article on the topic calls it "prohibition", which is, as far as I understand, rather a broad term that can refer to some other bans as well.

It's just that I'm trying to say

"Они рассматривали возможность введения сухого закона",

but I'm not sure the literal translation,

"They were considering the possibility of introducing a dry law",

would work, and it seems to me that

"They were considering imposing prohibition"

doesn't speak for itself and it's not clear I'm talking about alcohol here. Or does it? What are some better ways to say it?

Question

Dry law
Hi everyone!

Could someone please tell me, is there a specific way in English to refer to a ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages? In Russian we have the term "сухой закон" (lit. "dry law"), but the English Wikipedia article on the topic calls it "prohibition", which is, as far as I understand, rather a broad term that can refer to some other bans as well.

It's just that I'm trying to say

"Они рассматривали возможность введения сухого закона",

but I'm not sure the literal translation,

"They were considering the possibility of introducing a dry law",

would work, and it seems to me that

"They were considering imposing prohibition"

doesn't speak for itself and it's not clear I'm talking about alcohol here. Or does it? What are some better ways to say it?

Answer

"They were considering imposing prohibition"
is the proper expression.
No better way to say it.

Generally from context it is more than clear.
For example the page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States
Is simply titled "Prohibition in the USA."
Generally the expression has not been widely used for any other substance or group of substances.

If you think it requires more, you could go for an explanation, instead
"They were considering imposing a law prohibiting alcohol"
"They were considering imposing prohibition of alcohol"
"They were considering imposing a law prohibiting teh production and sale of alcohol"

Answer

Here in Texas in the U.S., there are dry counties where the sales of alcohol are illegal.  It is common to hear people talk about a dry county, not so much a dry city.

Prohibition is more commonly referred to a period in the 20's and 30's when alcoholic beverages were banned through out the U.S.

Answer

Prohibition in English is known as the time in the United States when alcohol was banned, so most English speakers will understand this. To this day, there are still "dry counties" in which the sale of alcohol is still prohibited. So either one works really. Or you could say "they were considering imposing a ban on alcohol" if you want to be very clear

Answer

Hello, Lacei!
It certainly helps: as I thought, the term "dry law" is not as common in English as it is in Russian, but it may be understood. Thank you for your answer!

Answer

Hello, Kseniia,

You are right to think that the word "prohibition" is a general term and needs clarification in this context. However, Prohibition, sometimes using a capital P or saying The Prohibition, is understood to mean the law that banned alcohol sales in the USA during the 1920s. In your case, I might suggest to simply say, "They were considering imposing a ban on alcohol sales." You could also say, "They were considering imposing a prohibition of alcohol." Regarding using the term "dry law," though I have not heard it being used, it may be understood by some as you do say that a state, county, or city is a "dry" city, and it is understood that means that you cannot buy alcohol there. I hope this helps!

Answers · 10

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