1. Moonshiners:
- Moonshiners were primarily responsible for producing illegal whiskey in remote areas, often in the mountains or rural regions.
- They operated stills and clandestine distilleries to produce moonshine, which was typically unaged and potent.
2. Rum Runners:
- Rum runners were individuals or groups involved in smuggling alcohol across borders or transporting it from overseas to coastal regions.
- They used speedboats, schooners, and even submarines to evade law enforcement and bring alcohol from neighboring countries like Canada and the Bahamas.
3. Bootleggers:
- The term "bootleggers" often refers to individuals who sold and distributed illegal alcohol to speakeasies, underground clubs, and individual customers.
- They operated secretive networks and used various means of transportation, including cars, trucks, and even airplanes.
4. Speakeasy Operators:
- Speakeasies were establishments that illegally sold and served alcoholic beverages during Prohibition.
- Speakeasy operators managed these venues and had networks of suppliers to obtain alcohol.
5. Organized Crime:
- Organized crime groups, such as the Mafia and bootlegging gangs, played a prominent role in the bootlegging trade.
- These groups had vast networks and used intimidation and violence to gain control over territories and bootlegging operations.
6. Alcohol Importers:
- Some bootleggers specialized in importing alcohol from countries where it was legal into Prohibition-era United States.
7. Counterfeiters:
- Counterfeiters produced fake alcohol labels and stamps, enabling bootleggers to pass off illegally produced alcohol as legitimate products.
8. Homebrewers:
- Although homebrewing was not strictly illegal during Prohibition, some individuals went beyond personal consumption and sold excess homemade alcoholic beverages, making them small-scale bootleggers.
The bootleggers of the Prohibition era navigated a complex web of laws, law enforcement, and societal attitudes towards alcohol. Their activities not only fueled the demand for illegal alcohol but also contributed to the rise of organized crime and societal divisions during this tumultuous period in American history.