The 100th Anniversary of the Start of Prohibition is today

Prohibition (1920-1933) went into effect a hundred years ago. It was a failure of a policy, giving rise to organized crime and creating an underground, unregulated market. Since the repeal of the 18th amendment, however, alcohol continues be a social problem. It is the third most preventable cause of death after smoking and diet/exercise. We need more access to alternative forms of treatment and mental health. Abstinence works, but doesn't work for everyone. We need more regulation of the alcohol industry including sales and use taxes. Children and adolescents should not be able to view advertising. I know I sound preachy but this is very personal to me and I hope to see some changes with our drinking culture in the future.