PROHIBITION STILL DOESN'T WORK

Dear Editor: I'm writing about: "AN EPIDEMIC ADDICTION: Meth Labs
Multiply Faster Than Police Can Find Them" (8/24).

Today's meth labs are very similar to the illegal distilleries of the
era known as the "Noble Experiment." During our alcohol-prohibition
era, thousands died from what was known as "bathtub gin."

Like the meth of today, the "bathtub gin" was easily made from
household or industrial products. Like the meth of today, the illegal
alcohol could be manufactured anywhere. Like meth, the "bathtub gin"
was a product created by Prohibition.

Like the meth of today, Prohibition-era alcohol was of unknown
quality, purity and potency. Like the meth of today, the bootleg
alcohol was untaxed, unregulated and controlled by criminal gangs.

When alcohol prohibition ended in 1933, almost 100 percent of the
"bathtub gin" producers went out of business for economic reasons and
have stayed out of the business for economic reasons.

When alcohol prohibition ended in 1933, the United States murder rate
declined for 10 consecutive years. Have we learned any lessons? Not
yet.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz