A Surprising Hub for Booze
During U.S. Prohibition (1920–1933), the tiny French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, near Newfoundland, became a major smuggling hub. Their “wet” status as French territories allowed them to legally import alcohol, which was then smuggled to the U.S. via rumrunners.
The Rise of Bootlegging
Before Prohibition, St. Pierre’s economy relied on cod fishing. Prohibition transformed the islands into bustling trade centers, with vast warehouses storing millions of liters of whiskey, rum, and wine. Smugglers used the islands to circumvent Canadian export restrictions and U.S. bans.
Economic Boom
The alcohol trade brought immense wealth. Taxes and export fees funded new infrastructure, and jobs flourished. Families worked unloading and repacking booze for transport. By 1929, the islands handled over 5.8 million liters of whiskey, worth nearly $850 million today.
The Party Ends
Prohibition’s repeal in 1933 ended the lucrative trade. Islanders poured remaining alcohol into barrels for legal sale in Canada. Many struggled economically as they returned to fishing. Today, the islands attract tourists intrigued by their Prohibition-era history.
During U.S. Prohibition, the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon became an unlikely hub for smuggling alcohol into America. These remote outposts thrived by storing whiskey and rum, supplying millions of liters to quench the insatiable American demand for booze.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/WUMxin5P5L
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) January 27, 2025