Under which act were drastic penalties enforced for making or selling liquor during prohibition?

The Volstead Act is the legislation that provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment, which established Prohibition in the United States. This act defined what constituted intoxicating liquor and set forth the structure for the prohibition of the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. It included strict penalties for violations, making it illegal to produce or sell alcohol. The Volstead Act thus played a crucial role in the implementation of Prohibition, making it the correct choice for this question.

Understanding the historical context is also helpful—Prohibition, which lasted from 1920 to 1933, aimed to curb alcohol consumption but ultimately led to a rise in organized crime and illegal speakeasies. The Volstead Act laid the groundwork for these challenges by establishing the legal framework needed to enforce Prohibition, which included the severe penalties mentioned in the question.