Question

Our history of alcohol regulation in the U.S. has shown how alcohol was considered a social, moral, political, and medical problem in different ways from colonial times to the passing of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act in 1988. Alcohol, as we have also seen, is something that both affects personal health as well as the health of others. In at least 200 words examine what you see as the appropriate amount of government intervention in alcohol regulation. In your response, discuss what you think of government regulation of alcohol as it concerns personal health versus the health of others.

In at least 50 words each, comment on the posts of two of your peers. Be sure to say whether you agree or disagree with them, and why. (30 points)

Answer 1

ALCOHOL REGULATION BY GOVERNMENT

The alcohol regulation by government in the past decade was a failure.

But the current regulatory structure reflects a paramount concern with maintaining an “orderly” commercial trade in alcoholic beverages and maintaining tax revenues. Also reflected in current regulations, though less visibly, is a concern for promoting temperance and protecting the public from adverse consequences of drinking. Minimum age restrictions on sales, limits on the number and nature of sales outlets, and high taxes are intended to limit the availability of alcohol and thereby reduce the harm engendered by high-volume or inappropriate drinking

Since the repeal of Prohibition the task of regulating commerce in alcoholic beverages has been left primarily to the states, but the federal government does play an important role. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) licenses importers, manufacturers, and wholesalers and regulates the advertising, size of containers, and labeling of alcoholic beverages. Although states have authority in this area of the market, they have largely left it to the federal government to manage. BATF is also responsible for collecting federal taxes on alcoholic beverages and suppressing illegal production. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for overseeing the purity and cleanliness of alcoholic beverages. In addition to this the federal government has direct control over the supply of alcoholic beverages on military reservations, a jurisdiction as direct control over national parks and waterways, rail, and air carriers. Other federal agencies have an indirect influence on the availability of alcohol.

In my opinion eventhough there is a common belief that alcohol control measures are ineffective as prevention instruments is unfounded. This belief has been engendered in part by a misunderstanding of the lessons of the Prohibition experience. There is good evidence from econometric studies that alcohol prices, as affected by excise taxation, can affect consumption levels, and probably the consequent rates of alcohol-related problems.  Reductions in the minimum drinking age slightly but consistently increase auto accident involvement by younger drivers. Most effects of merchandising practices, outlet density, civil liability for servers, and so forth have not been established with reliability, in part because these control mechanisms are very difficult to study. It is possible but as hypothetical that the cumulative effect of a number of changes in these regulation has been substantial.