Battling demon rum

the long version

How easy is it for government to regulate the morals of its citizens, or their social behavior? In Battling Demon Rum, Thomas Pegram provides an historical example with his narrative account of the struggle against alcohol in America, from the earliest days of the Republic through the repeal of prohibition. It is a cautionary tale. The groups that formed in an effort to regulate alcohol are the leading players in Mr. Pegram's story. He traces the moral and political campaigns of these temperance advocates, showing how their tactics and organization reflected changes in the nation's politics and social structure.