About five years ago I was superving remodeling a waterfront estate. I had a few white homeless guys that cleaned up, lumped, did grunt work.
I was driving them back to their ‘camp’ and asked them if they wanted a 12 pack of beer. They said no thanks, they were getting meth and heroin cheaper than beer.
This was five years ago. State and Federal are doubling the taxes, at least, on beer, wine, spirits.
It is getting to the point that illegal drugs are less expensive than legal drugs.
In Massachusetts a carton of Marlboro’s have gone from 25$ to 75$ and soon 90$
Oregon has proposed doubling the cost of beer. Not doubling the tax, the cost. So too yesterday Senator Grassly (R) proposed doubling the federal alcohol tax. Look for a PBR to cost 5$ in a bar.
When folks were able to sit inside and have a beer and a cigarette, they were much less likely to seek a faster, cheaper, longer-lasting high.
neo-prohibition and smoking bans have been a significant part of destroying a formerly congenial society.