In other words, prohibition succeeded in its stated aims, although it generated other problems along the way. To say it was a "dismal failure" is to deny history, not that many partisans haven't done so. It was a political failure, eventually, which is why it was repealed.
If alcohol was discovered or invented today, and all its negative effects were known, including thousands of deaths every year, do you think it would be legalized?
We have too much government for our own good.
/johnny
Well first of all, I would need to see the studies that supposedly show how it led to a decrease in consumption of alcohol. It would be hard to find trustworthy studies given the extent to which alcohol consumption during prohibition was done under the table and that those who were selling alcohol during that time were not exactly open about publishing their sales records.
And as for alcohol’s effects, well even if the science behind its effects were not as exact as they are now, the effects of alcohol, and the horrific damage it can do if used incorrectly, were widely known for centuries around the world and yet it remained legal. Which is why I don’t think one could assume that if it was discovered now and people knew its effects it would necessarily be outlawed. And if it was, we would likely give up on it in due time for the same reasons we did during Prohibition.