On 03 Jan 2004 10:00:33 GMT, otforme (Charlie Self)
scribbled:
I think we tried that. Prohibition it was called. Worked great. We ended up
with bootleggers, bathtub gin, speakeasies, a super advanced moonshining
industry, and crime bosses, along with several more government groups that are
still hanging around. Like many other substances, alcohol is very simple to
produce, so total control is impossible.

Controls are fairly tight on booze in this country, yet we still seem to have
more problems with it than most countries.

It seems that the further north one goes, the worse the alcohol
problems become and the larger the social problem caused by it. Think
Scandinavian countries, Russia, Canada, UK, Ireland. I think all these
countries have worse alcohol problems than the US.

Canada and the Scandinavian countries are really tough on drunk
driving and tax the hell out of alcohol. In Canada, drunk driving has
been a criminal offense for a long time, and the penalties are tougher
than in most US states. Here in the Yukon, we have a serious Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome problem, with kids whose mother drank are born with
different levels of mental retardation. We also have the highest per
capita alcohol consumption of any jurisdiction in Canada.

Not that any of this is going to stop me from making my 50 gallons of
wine a year, which I drink in moderation. Well, maybe except for New
Year's Eve.

Luigi
Replace "no" with "yk" for real email address