The Island of Booze: St. Pierre’s Thriving Prohibition Era

St. Pierre, France - In the 1920s and ’30s, this tiny French island in the North Atlantic was transformed into a major player in the global liquor trade, thanks to its strategic location and lax laws.

From Fishing to Bootlegging

The island’s economy had traditionally been based on fishing. However, when Prohibition hit the United States in 1919, St. Pierre saw an opportunity to cash in on the lucrative booze trade. With the French government turning a blind eye, the island became a major hub for smuggling American whiskey into Canada and the US.

The Rise of Bootlegging

• In 1922, just 11,000 cases of alcohol were imported into St. Pierre and Miquelon.
• By 1923, that number had skyrocketed to 435,700 cases - a staggering 40-fold increase over the previous decade.

The Economic Boom

As the demand for whiskey continued to soar, the island’s economy boomed. The government ran a huge surplus, allowing it to build new roads, schools and public facilities. Taxes, customs revenues and export fees poured in, making the islanders’ lives easier than ever before.

The Cost of Success

However, St. Pierre’s success came at a price. The American government had long been aware of the island’s role in the bootlegging trade, but they were powerless to stop it due to international treaties.

The Inspector’s Warning

In 1930, a French inspector was sent to the island to study the impact of the booze trade on the local economy. He reported that the demand for whiskey seemed virtually insatiable, with over 5.8 million liters (1.53 million gallons) pouring into the islands in 1929 alone - worth a staggering $60 million.

The Consequences

However, the inspector’s report also warned that passing laws to halt or control the smuggling of alcohol would be “catastrophic” for the islands. He feared that without rumrunning, the island economy would spiral into decline.

The End of an Era

Tragically, his warnings proved prophetic. In 1933, Prohibition was officially ended in the US, and St. Pierre’s high life came to an abrupt end. The distilleries sent thousands of empty barrels to the island, which were filled with the remaining whiskey and shipped back to Montreal and Windsor for reblending and future sale.

Legacy of Prohibition

Today, visitors come to St. Pierre and Miquelon seeking out the remnants of its Prohibition era. While many islanders departed their homeland during the economic downturn that followed, most returned gradually to cod fishing. Tourism also became an important business, and a fish-packing plant opened in the post-war period.

Few Traces Remain

Despite the passing of time, few traces of St. Pierre’s Prohibition era remain. But for those who lived through it, the memories of those heady days will never be forgotten.