PROHIBITION NOT THE ANSWER

Dear editor,

Concerning the letter Drug problem cannot be ignored.

Concerned parents like Connie Rufus-Alfred need to learn the harsh
lesson taught by U.S. alcohol prohibition in the U.S.

The prohibitionists promised that outlawing alcohol would protect
their children from the evils of demon rum, but what they delivered
was the worst epidemic of teen alcoholism before or since.

Every high school soon had an in-house bootlegger ready to keep the
kiddies hip flasks filled with rotgut booze. Since bootleggers often
sold liquor to children as young as 10 to 11 years old, the illusion
of saving the kiddies quickly vanished.

During the noble experiment, thousands of young people suffered
permanent brain damage, paralysis, liver damage and death from bootleg
liquor every year.

After repeal, teen alcohol use dropped substantially because licensed
dealers can be held accountable for selling booze to kids.

Parents worried about their children using dangerous drugs must learn
that outlawing drugs puts them under the control of career criminals,
who sell to children, and who only care about whether a customer has
cash in hand.

Only regulated markets can be controlled to prevent minors from
obtaining drugs or alcohol.

The choice concerned citizens must make is whether to continue a drug
prohibition policy that makes their children a hundred times more
vulnerable to dangerous drugs or to install a regulated market for
adult drug use that can greatly reduce teen drug use.

RALPH GIVENS

Daly City, CA