Cullen–Harrison Act facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cullen–Harrison Act

Other short titles	Beer Permit Act Permit and Tax Beer Act
Long title	An Act to provide revenue by the taxation of certain nonintoxicating liquor, and for other purposes.
Acronyms (colloquial)	CHA
Nicknames	Cullen–Harrison Act of 1933
Enacted by	the 73rd United States Congress
Effective	March 22, 1933
Citations
Public law	Pub.L. 73-3
Statutes at Large	48 Stat. 16
Codification
Titles amended	27 U.S.C.: Intoxicating Liquors
U.S.C. sections created	27 U.S.C. ch. 2A § 64a et seq.
Legislative history
Introduced in the House as H.R. 3341 by Thomas H. Cullen (D-NY) on March 14, 1933 Committee consideration by House Ways and Means, Senate Finance Passed the House on March 14, 1933 (326–99) Passed the Senate on March 16, 1933 (53–37) Reported by the joint conference committee on March 20, 1933; agreed to by the Senate on March 20, 1933 (49–42) and by the House on March 21, 1933 (agreed) Signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 22, 1933

The Cullen–Harrison Act was an important law passed in the United States in 1933. It was named after its main supporters, Senator Pat Harrison and Representative Thomas H. Cullen. This act allowed the sale of certain drinks that had a very small amount of alcohol. These drinks included beer with 3.2% alcohol (by weight) and some wines with a similar low alcohol level. People at the time believed these drinks were not strong enough to cause problems.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed this law on March 22, 1933. It became effective on April 7, 1933. When he signed it, President Roosevelt famously said, "I think this would be a good time for a beer." This act was a big step towards ending a period in American history called Prohibition.

The Cullen–Harrison Act: A New Chapter

What Was the Cullen–Harrison Act?

Before the Cullen–Harrison Act, a law called Prohibition made it illegal to sell most drinks containing alcohol across the U.S. This had been the rule since 1920. The Cullen–Harrison Act changed this. It allowed states to decide if they wanted to sell these low-alcohol drinks within their own borders. President Roosevelt had asked Congress to create such a bill.

This law was a way to bring back some types of drinks that people had not been able to buy legally for many years. It was a sign that the country was moving away from the strict rules of Prohibition.

The End of Prohibition's Strict Rules

For over a decade, the Volstead Act had enforced Prohibition. This meant that many businesses like breweries (places where beer is made) and taverns (places where drinks are served) had been closed or changed what they sold. When the Cullen–Harrison Act passed, many people were very excited. Crowds gathered outside breweries and taverns to celebrate. They were happy that they could once again buy and enjoy these specific low-alcohol drinks.

This act did not completely end Prohibition. That happened later with the Twenty-first Amendment. However, the Cullen–Harrison Act was the first major step. It showed that the government was ready to change its mind about the nationwide ban on alcohol.

See also

• Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
• Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution