Life — November 27, 1919 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Life Magazine, November 27, 1919 This cartoon references the **Prohibition movement** and the imminent enactment of the 18th Amendment (ratified in 1919, effective January 1920). The caption—"There ain't going to be no coke"—appears to be wordplay on "Coca-Cola," suggesting the beverage industry faced uncertainty under Prohibition's restrictions on alcohol production. The two figures represent a young woman and man, likely symbolizing ordinary Americans confronting the reality of Prohibition. The woman appears labeled "CAPITAL," suggesting the economic concerns of business interests worried about lost profits from alcohol sales. The ornate decorative border left suggests this is a cover or feature spread. The satire mocks both Prohibition's inevitability and the public's anxiety about the dramatic lifestyle changes it would impose.