Prohibition was a huge failure and so is the so called "war on drugs" we have going now. After repeal of prohibition gangs were quiet for a short period(by gangs I mean the mafia)teenage gangs were virtually harmless because they lacked real weapons until the mob started running drugs to make up for the money lost after prohibition was repealed. Prohibition costs us many freedoms, among them were some second amendment rights that are down the drain forever. The "war on drugs" is costing us even more freedoms, open warfare on the 4th amendment for starters, swat teams shooting down innocents and breaking down doors without legal warrants(no knock warrants are not mentioned in the constitution, therefore they are illegal).
No amount of spin will ever make Prohibition successful.
In fact, it was such a gigantic failure it should be taught in every law school as an example of what not to do. I can not envision a clearer case for the failure of the liberal belief that making laws will positively change behaviors.
I further contend that a written and oral discussion of the failure of Prohibition should be part of every bar exam. Anyone who believes that Prohibition was a success should never be allowed to “practice before the Bar”.