In the Federation, alcoholic beverages were anything but cheap, especially alcohol obtained through legitimate channels.
There had been no sign of the Prohibition being relaxed. Although many people in society believed there was no longer any need to continue enforcing it, several congressional hearings had made little progress.
Instead, with the apocalypse approaching, Congress had reached a consensus: there was even less reason to repeal Prohibition—
Before the apocalypse arrived, the Federal Government needed to stockpile vast quantities of supplies to survive the initial, most difficult period. If Prohibition were lifted, large amounts of grain would flow into the alcohol-manufacturing industry.
Obviously, there would not be enough time to ban that practice again on the eve of the apocalypse. Since no one knew the exact time the apocalypse would arrive, they simply decided not to lift the ban.
Some laboratories had already begun researching methods for storing grain over long periods, while some regions had even begun considering the construction of strategic grain-storage facilities.
Therefore, Prohibition would not only remain in place; it might even be enforced more strictly later on.
However, some restrictions had been loosened regarding the issuing of licenses.
Every year, the Federal Government issued a number of brewing licenses and licenses to sell alcoholic beverages. This caused the prices of alcohol in the consumer market to remain extremely high.
Mr. Truman himself did not have much in savings—only tens of thousands of dollars in total.
After he died, that money was inherited by Joanna—
When one spouse died unexpectedly, the other spouse became the first heir. That was stipulated by the Federal Inheritance Act.
And because of various fines and other expenses, Joanna no longer had any money in her personal account. What she had now was Mr. Truman's inheritance.
Thus, the girl had no source