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  • Essay / Prohibition of alcohol consumption, sale and possession in Alaska

    Prohibition in Alaska is not new. The ban has been in effect since the 1980s, but today people have had enough. Not being able to buy or even possess alcohol is too much for the majority. In his article “Is Prohibition a Good Idea After All?” Alana Semuels says prohibition doesn't do as much good as first thought. His statement is true because banning alcohol deprives Alaskan villages of a large amount of money and does not allow villagers to find their alcohol limits, leading to excessive drinking. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay First of all, banning the sale of alcohol in Alaskan villages deprives the villages of a considerable amount of revenue. According to an article published on the USA Today website, “annual alcohol sales total $5.5 million, which is equivalent to more than half of the city's annual budget” (In Remote Alaska…). This substantial loss of revenue could instead be used by increasing police forces in Alaskan villages to help enforce drinking laws. Even more, it could serve to raise awareness about alcohol abuse and alcohol-related assaults/incidents in Alaskan villages. Additionally, alcohol taxes in Alaska have not been shown to deter consumers from purchasing alcohol; in fact, it increases the sale of alcohol. In the article “Alaskans drank more despite higher alcohol tax, drink prices,” author Kyle Hopkins writes “instead of reducing their consumption because of the added cost, Alaskans continued to drink. The hard liquor tax has doubled, but sales of whiskey, vodka and other spirits have increased 41 percent since that increase” (Hopkins). So, taxing alcohol would not stop or deter the purchase of alcohol. In fact, it would most likely increase the purchase of alcohol, which would mean more revenue for villages that choose to lift the ban on alcohol or even villages that choose to regulate the sale. and alcohol consumption. In addition, the reintroduction of alcohol into Alaskan villages will gradually allow villagers to become aware of their limits. The ban on drinking alcohol in some villages causes villagers to drink excessively whenever they come into contact with alcohol. An article published on the USA Today website states: "They drink themselves to death or pass out in subzero cold, where they can count themselves lucky if they just lose a few fingers or a limb because of frostbite. » (In Remote Alaska…). Excessive alcohol consumption causes incidents since most Alaska Natives do not know how to manage their alcohol. Reinstating alcohol in Alaska villages would reduce villagers' need to binge and allow them to find their alcohol limits and eventually be able to drink responsibly. We might think that villages which authorize the sale, consumption and possession of alcohol would have more assaults, homicides and suicides given that there is more access to alcohol but in fact this is false. . In an article published by the Associated Press, about a study on safety in dry villages compared to "humid" or wet villages, it is said: "They showed that suicides, homicides and vehicle collisions motorized vehicles are higher on reservations that prohibit alcohol” (A study reveals Alaska…)..