Pubdate: Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2014 Star Tribune
Contact: http://www.startribunecompany.com/143
Website: http://www.startribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266
Author: Charles Nichols

COMMISSIONERS MAKE A FLAWED CASE AGAINST IT

To paraphrase a passage from the commissioners' commentary, let's 
have a little word game and see where it goes.

While the benefits of alcohol are poorly documented, there's no 
shortage of evidence regarding its negative effects on individuals 
and communities. For example:

Alcohol can disrupt learning and impair memory;

Alcohol can exacerbate mental illness;

Alcohol use during pregnancy can harm a baby's brain development;

Alcohol can impair drivers, causing automobile crashes that kill or 
injure innocent people;

Alcohol is addictive; 1 in 6 of those who start using in their teens 
develop dependency.

OK, I didn't match all the bullet points (two were questionable), but 
clearly we should make alcohol illegal. Oh, wait a minute - we tried 
that, and it didn't work.

Charles Nichols, Brooklyn Center
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom