The woman bootlegger
Women were widely believed to be subject to more lenient treatment in the courts and by the police if arrested, and for this reason, many were recruited by bootleggers to serve alcohol at businesses frequented by women. Beauty parlors and tea rooms became places of resort for women who did not want to gain disrepute by entering a speakeasy unescorted, but nonetheless wanted a glass of wine or an alcoholic concoction.
Bridge parties and teas served at home became places where the bootlegger’s services and products were welcome, and with many women aghast at the idea of associating with so seedy a character as a male bootlegger, female bootleggers carved out their own niche, which expanded to diners and other businesses run by women.
Of course brothels, which were often frequented by the political powers of the cities and towns in which they were located, were a source of illegal alcohol as well, and nearly all of them were run by madams, who ran them more or less independently of the bootlegging syndicates, though it was from them that they obtained their product. The quality of the liquor served was one factor on which many brothels were rated, and the madams of some served the best liquor in town.