 As a result, in May 1918, Hull enacted local laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol.This led to a dramatic increase in bootlegging in Hull, and the town gained the nickname "le Petit Chicago", because its per capita crime rates were similar to those in Chicago.In 1919, a local plebiscite repealed Hull's prohibition laws, causing Hull's drinking establishments to once again thrive as a result of the continued prohibition in neighbouring Ontario.