DESIRED EFFECT UNREALIZED

Andrew A. Green and Chuck Plunkett's recent news article, "In Arkansas,
beer run likely to be a long trip," illustrates an obvious truth:
County-based alcohol policy does not prevent alcohol consumption. Indeed,
our analysis of alcohol policy shows that the wet-dry county distinction
does not have the desired effect.

Specifically, a statistical analysis of 1997 Arkansas county data
concerning juvenile and adult alcohol and drug arrest rates, drunk driving
arrests and alcohol/drug motor vehicle accident rates shows no significant
difference between wet and dry counties. What does make a difference in
these equations is the number of police per 1,000 citizens in a county.

If there is one lesson to be learned from Green and Plunkett's article and
our analysis, it is that prohibition policy in Arkansas has failed.
Government policies concerning substance abuse are potentially more
effective when dealing with underlying reasons for their abuse than with
limiting supply.

At best, those wishing to drink alcohol will drive over county borders or
state lines to obtain it; at worst, Arkansans will turn to criminal
activities or illegal drugs.

PATRICK A. STEWART, CATHERINE C. REESE

Jonesboro Editor's note: Patrick A. Stewart, Ph.D., and Catherine C. Reese,
DPA, are members of the Arkansas State University Political Science
Department. They were assisted in this project by graduate student Jeremy
Brewer.