In the early 1900s, the beer industry relied on “tied-houses,” where brewers controlled taverns by offering credit, equipment, and incentives in exchange for selling their brand exclusively. This system encouraged aggressive sales practices that ignored customer well-being and helped spark the push for Prohibition. When the 18th Amendment banned alcohol in 1919, the industry entered a 14-year dry spell. Prohibition ended in 1933 with the 21st Amendment, which returned alcohol regulation to the states and established the Three-Tier System. This new model eliminated tied-houses by requiring beer to be sold through independent distributors, creating a fairer, more responsible market.