Resolved: Prohibition should be made law again

Making Alcohol Illegal Increases Drunk Driving. If we make alcohol illegal, then folks that consume it illegally must go out to a speakeasy. They will eventually return home, drunk. Making alcohol illegal will not decrease drunk driving rates - it will increase those statistics. At least now, people are free to drink alcohol at home, free of driving, or are allowed to ask someone to drive them home - like a manager.What I am getting at is that making alcohol illegal will put more people on the streets, drunk, because they must go out of their home in search of it. Abuse of rights. "The hand that controls the machinery of our factories, that holds the steering wheel of our automobiles, and the brains that guide the course of finance and industry, should alike be free from the effects of over-indulgence in alcohol."This is a part of the statement that FDR made. I want to point out a part - where he says "should alike be free from the effects of over-indulgence in alcohol." How about those that consume a moderate amount of alcohol? What about those that don't abuse their right to drink? "According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,1 moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men." This is pulled from a CDC article about alcohol - http://www.cdc.gov.... Now, obviously, this is the majority of people. A majority of people consume an average amount of alcohol, or no alcohol at all. Should we take away their rights just because others abuse theirs? No. It is basically the same as banning knifes because some, but not all, abuse their rights to own knifes and hurt themselves or others. Banning alcohol is an abuse of rights - should we take away the rights of those that drink responsibly and keep it under control? No. Economic Disaster. Banning alcohol would be an economic disaster. The alcohol industry makes billions each year. The tobacco industry also makes a quite a bit as well: "The tobacco industry consists of several different companies, all of which make different amounts of money. The highest ranking tobacco company in the Fortune 500, Philip Morris International, reports a yearly revenue of $27,208,000,000. The second-highest ranking tobacco company, Altria Group, makes $16,892,000,000 of revenue each year." Pulled from http://www.ask.com.... Now, how much exactly do you plan to tax this industry? Because if you take it too high, it will collapse as well - resulting in two huge industries falling. Do you realize how many people would loose their jobs - and turn to illegal alcohol? These people working in factories or in shipping yards or in the offices would loose their jobs. People turn to alcohol for relief. Not only would banning alcohol and taxing tobacco result into two huge industries collapsing and the economy going into ruins, but it would result in lots of unemployed people turning to now illegal alcohol. It's a never-ending cycle. Prohibition didn't work in times of success. The policy of the 20's was inefficient - but let me remind you that the 20's were a time of economic success for America and other countries. Stocks were soaring sky-high. It was a great time for the economy.Yet, the policy of prohibition wasn't fully enforced in good times - how would we pay for it in times of a poor economy like the one today? If the riches of the 1920's couldn't afford to end the illegal sale of alcohol, how could we manage it now?With two industries now collapsing and an expensive government program to make sure one of these industries isn't selling anything, what would that do to tax rates in this country? How could we afford these burdens? And with the additional taxes, companies would have to let folks go. People going through tough times, such as those who are unemployed, tend to rely on alcohol to carry them through the struggles. More people drinking illegal alcohol. It just doesn't work. *Some* health benefits. Drinking alcohol in moderation can offer some health benefits. These include: Reduce your risk of developing heart disease Reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack Possibly reduce your risk of strokes, particularly ischemic strokes Lower your risk of gallstones Possibly reduce your risk of diabetes I pulled this off of http://www.mayoclinic.com.... What I'm saying is that alcohol in moderation is not bad, and in fact can offer some health benefits. "The first issue is to bring these facts into public attention and make people aware of the dangers of alcohol."This is a statement you made. We have been telling the public the effects and dangers of alcohol - through the Surgeon's General, through the D.A.R.E program, and other such measures. My question is: what more do you have in mind? What we should be teaching the public is that alcohol is okay, at least for your health, in moderation. My stance is that making alcohol illegal will only increase drunk driving rates because people will have to go out in search for it. Banning alcohol is an abuse of rights for those that handle their rights responsibly. We should be stricter on those that abuse their rights, but we should not limit the rights of those who are responsible. Banning alcohol would bring finical ruin - not only for the alcohol industry, but also the tobacco industry, as you suggested an additional tax, and the national economy as a whole. With more people out of work, they will turn to illegal alcohol. Prohibition didn't work in times when the US had a booming economy - how would it work now? You suggested we do it in steps; yet, the plan as whole would still cost us. Drinking in moderation does bring some potential health benefits. That's what we should make aware to the American people - that alcohol is okay in moderation. This would keep the alcohol industry stable and not cause finical ruin. I like debating this topic as well. May the voters decide who eventually wins.