Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary2026 · Date · History
The U.S. National Archives records ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment on January 16, 1919 and its one-year phase-in. This record is a historical anniversary; “Prohibition Remembrance Day” is retained as an alias rather than asserted as a formally established federal observance.
About Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary
January 16 is the anniversary of the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1919.
This guide is anchored to that documented constitutional anniversary. The label “Prohibition Remembrance Day” is retained only as a search/alias term and is not presented as a federally established annual holiday.
Why Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary matters
The Eighteenth Amendment created the constitutional framework for national Prohibition, with its operative ban taking effect one year after ratification.
Historical discussion should distinguish ratification, effective date and later repeal, and should describe alcohol-policy history without giving personalized health, legal or consumption advice.
History of Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary
Congress proposed the Eighteenth Amendment in 1917, and the National Archives records ratification on January 16, 1919.
Section 1 provided that the prohibition provisions would take effect one year after ratification.
The Twenty-first Amendment later repealed the Eighteenth Amendment. Reviewed primary sources do not establish a durable official modern observance named Prohibition Remembrance Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
8 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Prohibition Remembrance Day
How to Observe Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary
Use the anniversary to study constitutional amendment, federalism, enforcement and repeal history from primary or scholarly sources.
Keep alcohol-related discussion descriptive; do not frame the page as encouragement to drink or abstain, and do not substitute it for current legal or health guidance.
Do not call the alias a federal holiday or invent a modern organizer.
Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary Facts
The Eighteenth Amendment was ratified on January 16, 1919.
Its prohibition provisions took effect one year after ratification.
The amendment was later repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment.
The reviewed primary sources do not establish “Prohibition Remembrance Day” as a formal federal observance.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
U.S. National Archives — Constitution amendments history
U.S. National Archives — Amendments 11–27 (opens in a new tab)
National Archives
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary?
16 January The documented recurrence rule is: 16 January.
Does Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / historical anniversary of Eighteenth Amendment ratification. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary?
The documented basis is: The U.S. National Archives records ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment on January 16, 1919 and its one-year phase-in. This record is a historical anniversary; “Prohibition Remembrance Day” is retained as an alias rather than asserted as a formally established federal observance.. Supporting evidence includes U.S. National Archives — Amendments 11–27. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is Eighteenth Amendment ratification anniversary international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / historical anniversary of Eighteenth Amendment ratification.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-25.
What happened on January 16, 1919?
The Eighteenth Amendment reached ratification on that date, according to the U.S. National Archives.
Did Prohibition take effect immediately?
No. The amendment provided for its operative prohibition to begin one year after ratification.
Is Prohibition Remembrance Day a federal holiday?
The reviewed primary sources do not establish a formal federal observance by that name; this guide is anchored to the historical ratification anniversary.
What ended constitutional Prohibition?
The Twenty-first Amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment.
Other observances on January 16
These observances are also listed on January 16, 2027.
Appreciate a Dragon Day
Creator-linked and publishing references identify Donita K. Paul as the 2004 creator of Appreciate a Dragon Day and January 16 as its recurring date.
National B2B Salesperson Day
Salesperson Inc. states that it founded National B2B Salesperson Day in 2026 and designates January 16 every year for B2B salesperson recognition.
National Nothing Day
Current observance references identify January 16, Harold Pullman Coffin as the 1972 proposer and 1973 as the first-observance year; long-running Chase’s Calendar coverage corroborates the…
National Use Your Gift Card Day
The official campaign identifies Tracy Tilson as founder, January 18, 2020 as the first edition, and the third Saturday of January as the recurring annual date.