History
Famous Prohibitions in History
15rows
5columns
37views
0downloads
Source:Community curated
Updated:4/9/2026
15/15
Prohibition↕ | Country↕ | Period↕ | Banned Item↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Prohibition (Volstead Act) | United States | 1920-1933 | Alcohol | 18th Amendment, Al Capone bootlegging, speakeasies, repealed by 21st Amendment |
| Iran Alcohol Ban | Iran | 1979-present | Alcohol | Islamic Revolution imposition, underground homemade arak, floggings for offenders |
| Bhutan Tobacco Ban | Bhutan | 2004-2021 | Tobacco sales | First country to ban tobacco sales, 200% import tax, lifted during COVID |
| Saudi Cinema Ban | Saudi Arabia | 1983-2018 | Public cinemas | 35-year ban lifted under Crown Prince MBS, opened with Black Panther screening |
| Russian Vodka Monopoly/Ban | Russian Empire/USSR | 1914-1925 | Vodka sales | Nicholas II wartime ban, Bolshevik continuation, bankrupted treasury |
| Singapore Chewing Gum Ban | Singapore | 1992-present | Chewing gum sales | Lee Kuan Yew's cleanliness crusade, relaxed for medicinal gum in 2004 |
| Ottoman Coffee Ban | Ottoman Empire | 1633 | Coffee | Sultan Murad IV banned coffee, tobacco, alcohol on pain of death, fear of sedition |
| Chinese Opium Ban | Qing China | 1729-1912 | Opium | Led to First Opium War 1839, Treaty of Nanking, Hong Kong cession |
| Finland Alcohol Prohibition | Finland | 1919-1932 | Alcohol | Overturned by referendum, spurred Alko state monopoly model |
| Taliban Music Ban | Afghanistan | 1996-2001, 2021-present | Music, TV, female education | Destroyed instruments, banned television, removed music from public life |
| North Korea Foreign Media Ban | North Korea | 1948-present | Foreign media, internet | One of world's strictest info controls, smuggled K-dramas punished in labor camps |
| India Beef Ban (states) | India | 1976-present (varies) | Cow slaughter | State-level bans, Maharashtra and UP strictest, lynching incidents |
| Norway Prohibition | Norway | 1916-1927 | Spirits and fortified wine | Wine trade disputes with France, Portugal forced partial rollback |
| Canada Provincial Prohibition | Canada | 1901-1948 (varies) | Alcohol | PEI first province 1901, Quebec never fully banned, bootlegging to US |
| Japan Firearms Ban (Edo) | Japan | 1588-1854 | Civilian firearms and swords | Toyotomi Hideyoshi's sword hunt, rare voluntary de-gunning of society |
Free to explore · No signup needed
Related Datasets
More in History
Famous Historical Famines
The Irish Potato Famine, Bengal 1943, the Holodomor — which famine most shaped the course of history?
15 rows1 shared tag
Historical Trade Routes
Twelve of the most important trade routes in human history that shaped economies, spread cultures, and connected civilizations.
12 rows1 shared tag
Countries by Formation Date
Sovereign states ordered by date of formation.
196 rows1 shared tag
Famous Diplomatic Incidents & Crises
The Cuban Missile Crisis, the Zimmermann Telegram, the U-2 Incident — which diplomatic crisis brought the world closest to catastrophe?
15 rows1 shared tag
Famous Shipyards & Naval Dockyards
Harland & Wolff, Newport News, Gdansk, Hyundai Heavy Industries — which legendary shipyard built the vessels that shaped history?
15 rows1 shared tag
Ancient & Medieval Weapons
Legendary weapons from ancient and medieval warfare — swords, bows, siege engines, and everything in between.
15 rows1 shared tag