Prohibition of alcohol DID have a dampening effect on alcohol use, though.
And an enriching effect on mobsters. I've never seen an estimate of more than 40% (and have seen less) for how much Prohibition reduced alcohol use. The cure was worse than the disease, which is why conservatives of the day opposed the enactment of Prohibition and supported its repeal.
Whatever ones opinion on Prohibition is, you have to admit that it at least went through the proper constitutional process to be enacted, just as its repeal did.
That it did, unlike today's federal drug criminalization.
So we shouldn’t oppose a destructive influence on society because the purveyors of that influence may capitalize on the resulting demand?
Now I’ve heard everything. We might as well “legalize” all manner of recreational drugs, then.