[erikwiffin]

Not just alcohol. An interesting observation in An Economist Gets Lunch (one of my favorite books on food) is that Prohibition is responsible for putting many great restaurants of the era out of business (restaurants make money on alcohol). The remaining restaurants adjusted to a more "family-friendly" palate, (think grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, and cheeseburgers) and away from more subtle flavors.

[gaadd33]

I've also heard that in some cities it increased the number of people who were unfed since many bars offered a free lunch (think bowl of today's stew) with the purchase of a drink. When you get rid of the alcohol subsidizing the food cost, suddenly finding dirt cheap food was harder.