Ed Helms

At Bellevue Hospital, it's not just the bodies that have been stacking up. Alexander Gettler's notebooks are piled high everywhere. Meticulous records of all the data he's compiled since the start of Prohibition. Documented night after painstaking night. And the numbers, as 1928 winds down, are disturbing as hell.

At Bellevue Hospital, it's not just the bodies that have been stacking up. Alexander Gettler's notebooks are piled high everywhere. Meticulous records of all the data he's compiled since the start of Prohibition. Documented night after painstaking night. And the numbers, as 1928 winds down, are disturbing as hell.

The body count from drinking-related deaths in New York City this year alone is 10,000. Ten years ago, when they issued their first warning on the eve of Prohibition, Gettler and Norris knew things were going to be bad. But this bad? At that 1926 press conference, the Prohibition Bureau issued a reminder to America, drink and you die.

The body count from drinking-related deaths in New York City this year alone is 10,000. Ten years ago, when they issued their first warning on the eve of Prohibition, Gettler and Norris knew things were going to be bad. But this bad? At that 1926 press conference, the Prohibition Bureau issued a reminder to America, drink and you die.

And Americans more or less responded with, cool, so yeah, make it a double. The grand irony here is that people are drinking now more than ever before. In New York, cases of alcoholism had been going down in the years leading into Prohibition. But since 1920, alcoholism was reaching all-time highs. Insurance companies reported that deaths from alcoholism were 600% higher in 1928 than in 1920.

And Americans more or less responded with, cool, so yeah, make it a double. The grand irony here is that people are drinking now more than ever before. In New York, cases of alcoholism had been going down in the years leading into Prohibition. But since 1920, alcoholism was reaching all-time highs. Insurance companies reported that deaths from alcoholism were 600% higher in 1928 than in 1920.

For those addicted to drinking, it was a dangerous time. Even if they heard government warnings, it wasn't realistic to think that they could just stop drinking cold turkey. For the rest of the population, well, the government messaging about the dangers of drinking just wasn't making an impact. Which kind of makes sense. I mean, remember that commercial from the 80s, This is Your Brain on Drugs?

For those addicted to drinking, it was a dangerous time. Even if they heard government warnings, it wasn't realistic to think that they could just stop drinking cold turkey. For the rest of the population, well, the government messaging about the dangers of drinking just wasn't making an impact. Which kind of makes sense. I mean, remember that commercial from the 80s, This is Your Brain on Drugs?

We all saw that egg frying in the pan, but isn't frying your brain kind of the point? And I do wonder who across the country beyond avid readers of the New York papers was actually getting the warnings from the government. News certainly didn't travel then the way it does now. Sure, they had coast-to-coast radio, but we're still a ways off from the days of push notifications.

We all saw that egg frying in the pan, but isn't frying your brain kind of the point? And I do wonder who across the country beyond avid readers of the New York papers was actually getting the warnings from the government. News certainly didn't travel then the way it does now. Sure, they had coast-to-coast radio, but we're still a ways off from the days of push notifications.

Now, Norris and Gettler were determined to tell the entire country just how fucked up things had gotten. So, on a fall afternoon, Norris sits down in front of a typewriter at his desk, alongside his man Gettler, and Gettler's stack of notebooks.

Now, Norris and Gettler were determined to tell the entire country just how fucked up things had gotten. So, on a fall afternoon, Norris sits down in front of a typewriter at his desk, alongside his man Gettler, and Gettler's stack of notebooks.

Through the years, our duo had issued periodic messages to the public through medical journals and in press conferences for the local New York media, but it wasn't penetrating. It was just small potatoes. So, refusing to be ignored, Gettler and Norris decide they need to step things up.

Through the years, our duo had issued periodic messages to the public through medical journals and in press conferences for the local New York media, but it wasn't penetrating. It was just small potatoes. So, refusing to be ignored, Gettler and Norris decide they need to step things up.

As Gettler flips through his notes and busts out his data, Norris starts typing and begins to paint a picture, first of what's been going down in their backyard, beginning with those horrific three days that had just passed in October.

As Gettler flips through his notes and busts out his data, Norris starts typing and begins to paint a picture, first of what's been going down in their backyard, beginning with those horrific three days that had just passed in October.

Yep, New York City subways in the 1920s were also scary. And this was before the days of Pizza Rat. Anywho. In a word, the word alcohol is not poison liquor.

Yep, New York City subways in the 1920s were also scary. And this was before the days of Pizza Rat. Anywho. In a word, the word alcohol is not poison liquor.

And how did the poison get into the liquor? Well, that brings Norris and Gettler to the government and their official poisoning program. Now, Norris acknowledges that alcohol made for industrial purposes should be protected and differentiated in some meaningful way. Sure, you have supplies of alcohol that are supposed to be used in perfumes and aftershaves.

And how did the poison get into the liquor? Well, that brings Norris and Gettler to the government and their official poisoning program. Now, Norris acknowledges that alcohol made for industrial purposes should be protected and differentiated in some meaningful way. Sure, you have supplies of alcohol that are supposed to be used in perfumes and aftershaves.