Prohibition: Success or Failure? - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Up From Prohibition

Submitted by Marty Murphy, Jun 21, 2007 15:57

"As a result of Prohibition, 180,000 saloons were shut down, and 1,800 breweries went out of business. In ten years of Prohibition, the death rate due to alcohol decreased 42%, the death rate due to cirrhosis of the liver decreased by 70%, crime decreased by 54%, and insanity decreased by 66%." - William J. Bennett

As for any increase in organized criminal activity, the rise of the Mafia in America can be explained by the coincidental crackdown on the Sicilian Mafia by the government of Mussolini. This encouraged many ambitious young members to relocate to America.

Prohibition was a mistake, but not as much of a failure as the conventional wisdom portrays.

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Comment	By	Date
"As a result of Prohibition, 180,000 saloons were shut down, and 1,800 breweries went out of business. In ten years...	Marty Murphy	Jun 21, 2007 15:57