War on Alcohol? Could it have happened?

Could Prohibition have been enforced with the (in my view stupid) determination of the current "War on Drugs"?

Maybe it could not simply because such a huge number of folk used the stuff and it is so easy to make yourself.

On the other hand could consumption of alcohol have been driven down.

What about a massive stupid jail population in the 20s and 30s
 
Could Prohibition have been enforced with the (in my view stupid) determination of the current "War on Drugs"?

Maybe it could not simply because such a huge number of folk used the stuff and it is so easy to make yourself.

On the other hand could consumption of alcohol have been driven down.

What about a massive stupid jail population in the 20s and 30s

One of the reason Prohibition failed so badly was because it only caused an increase in crime by making it profitable to the various mobsters in New York and Chicago. an increase in government efforts would probably only make the situation worse, since from what I've been able to tell, the current "War on drugs" hasn't been
very successful either.
 
One of the reason Prohibition failed so badly was because it only caused an increase in crime by making it profitable to the various mobsters in New York and Chicago. an increase in government efforts would probably only make the situation worse, since from what I've been able to tell, the current "War on drugs" hasn't been
very successful either.

Yep, it's basically achieved the same consequences as prohibition. The difference seems to be that the war on drugs is treated as necessary. I doubt you could convince people that similar measures are needed for alcohol.

A more likely occurrence is alcohol receives the soft disdain that smoking now enjoys. Probable bans are street drinking, single-sales, 40s, and anything "girly" marketed at under aged and vulnerable populations (Smirnoff Ice for example.)
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
It's often, and truthfully, pointed out that many more people are killed by alcohol than by illegal drugs. But alcohol is so common and so deeply ingrained in human society that attempts to hinder access to it will never meet with any success.

(Speaking of alcohol, it's about five o'clock. Time to pop open a Newcastle)
 

King Thomas

Banned
It's been around too long to ban. Banning it would most likely cause the party that did it to lose a large number of votes.
 
Another reason to post this picture:D


moonshine-van.jpg

http://www.atf.treas.gov/kids/graphics/photos/moonshine-van.jpg
 
Let's not forget that for the longest time, alcohol was the safest liquid to drink, as clean water was not exactly widely available, or even existent, for much of history.

So alcohol has a rather unique place when it comes to drugs, especially since it forms a core element of a number of cultures and religions.
 
It's been around too long to ban. Banning it would most likely cause the party that did it to lose a large number of votes.

I agree. Alcohol has ben a part of Western culture for millenia, but not many drugs. So banning it in the US is a major waste of time.

Of course, I don't think it is exactly ASB to try...
 
Could Prohibition have been enforced with the (in my view stupid) determination of the current "War on Drugs"?

Maybe it could not simply because such a huge number of folk used the stuff and it is so easy to make yourself.

On the other hand could consumption of alcohol have been driven down.

What about a massive stupid jail population in the 20s and 30s


Hops spraying in Kent? An invasion of Bavaria? Perhaps establishing a military junta in Australia to wipe out VB?
 
Drunk drivers kill more people every year than than terrorists. 16,000 in 2005 for alcohol related traffic fatalities. From 1979 10 1998, 378,000 died from alcohol, 45,000 from illegal drugs.
 
Let's not forget that for the longest time, alcohol was the safest liquid to drink, as clean water was not exactly widely available, or even existent, for much of history.

So alcohol has a rather unique place when it comes to drugs, especially since it forms a core element of a number of cultures and religions.
As far as I can tell, ALL human cultures have three things in common:
1. They name things, including themselves
2. They tell stories (including religous ones)
3. They have alcoholic beverages (or the equivalent)
 
Top