Bootleggers were individuals or groups who illegally produced, transported, or sold alcohol during the Prohibition era in the United States, which lasted from 1920 to 1933. This period saw the banning of alcohol production and sale, leading to a rise in underground operations. Bootleggers often used secret routes and hidden distilleries to evade law enforcement. The term "bootlegging" originally referred to the practice of concealing flasks of liquor in the legs of boots. Over time, bootleggers became associated with organized crime, and their activities contributed to the growth of illegal markets. The end of Prohibition led to the decline of bootlegging as alcohol became legal again.