Propaganda of the Prohibition Era: A Photoblog of Prohibition Temperance Ads
As a marketing agency, it’s fun to explore and use inspiration from historic movements and ads in marketing history, and Prohibition was a fascinating time.
The temperance movement, driven by organizations like the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), aimed to reduce alcoholism and promote non-alcoholic alternatives like grape juice and soda. Companies like Welch’s and Coca-Cola marketed themselves as alcohol substitutes.
We have gathered some of the unique, funny, or bizarre temperance ads from the 1920s in remembrance of Prohibition. Today, non-alcoholic or sober bars and mocktail lounges are still marketed as “temperance bars,” and the hidden speakeasy style is still very much in demand.
These ads were designed to scare or educate individuals about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption and the benefits of moderation.
Whether you’re a business owner, marketer, or someone interested in the impact of advertising, you may find these ads over the top- funny, serious or maybe just intriguing. Let’s take a look at some of the weird and wacky temperance ads created during prohibition.
Each photo has a caption with where it came from, so take the time to click and read each one!
