Statistics Don't Lie (But People Do)

We at the official headquarters of the unofficial Prohibition Party are currently considering the adoption of the softer moniker People's Prohibition Party. This is largely in the hopes of expanding our appeal base,since everybody likes parties that say they are for "the people". It is also because we are worried we might get sued. Initial considerations of the name Children's Prohibition Party were hastily abandoned once it was noted that laws regarding child drinking were already in place and there was little work to be done in this arena.

We are, however, quite happy to direct our readers to these rather damning statistics regarding drinking and crime in the United States:

Wet counties had 121% more murder, 326% more robberies, 142% more negligent manslaughter, 90% more weapons violations, 426% more disorderly, and 106% more drunkenness.

Drunk driving arrests, adult alcohol and drug arrests, and juvenile arrest for drug violations were all over 30% higher in wet counties.

Population growth from 1990-2000 in dry counties was almost three times that of wet counties (2000 census data).

Law enforcement personnel needs in wet counties averaged 1 per 318 citizens as opposed to 1 per 501 citizens in a dry county (Arkansas Criminal Information Center).

It is our solemn belief that the fact that most dry counties are located in the middle of God-awful nowhere, far from urban centers where the majority of these crimes are committed and the greatest bulk of the population is located, is of no consequence to the truth of the matter that alcohol use, no matter how moderate, is clearly the root of all criminal pathology.