That’s prohibition with a small “p”. Not the societal-shifting, decade-plus nationwide outlaw of the sale of alcohol enforced in the U.S. from 1930 to 1933. It refers to the continuing restriction of liquor in “dry” counties in the U.S.—in the state of Kentucky, for instance. The Wall Street Journal recently reported on an economic study conducted by the University of Kentucky that found “dry” counties in their state had a higher number of meth labs.
Dry counties had two more lab seizures per 100,000 residents each year than “wet” counties. Does this suggest that those denied alcohol may be more tempted to indulge in illicit drugs? Is it another indicator that legislating human behavior is a very slippery slope?
--Sarah Hagerty
