The Growing Prohibitionist Threat

The slow, silent march to alcohol prohibition continues apace. In March, Mothers Against Drunk Driving called for a "mandatory provision in every separation agreement and divorce decree that prohibits either parent from drinking and driving … with children under the age of 16 in the vehicle." Any drinking before driving, MADD insisted, should result in penalties that "should include, but are not limited to"– "incarceration," "change of primary custody," or "termination of parental rights."

As with all their efforts in recent years, MADD's assault on divorced parents isn't about traffic safety; it's about marginalizing and eventually criminalizing any drinking before driving-one subgroup at a time. For example, they advocate a nationwide arrest threshold of 0.05% BAC for repeat offenders with kids in the car. MADD is literally seeking to redefine the term "drunk" for certain populations-yet another incremental step toward de facto prohibition.

It's no coincidence that MADD's 0.05% proposal is identical to a recently passed Utah law written by George Van Komen, who opposes all alcohol consumption. Van Komen leads an organization formerly called the "Anti-Saloon League" and the "National Temperance League." Other examples of neo-prohibitionist "small steps" from 2004 alone include:

• Legislators in New Mexico, New York, and Oklahoma introduced legislation to mandate ignition interlocks in every car. New York State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz even admitted that with his breathalyzer bill, "We are targeting responsible adults." While none of these proposals will become law this year, they are a first step in an attempt to desensitize the public to this outrageously neo-prohibitionist plan.
  
  
• The White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy linked alcohold with drug use for the first time in its five-year media campaign. They have already aired this alcohol-drugs connection in a 30-second Super Bowl spot and in an "open letter" published by almost 300 newspapers.
  
  
• The other Bush Administration—Jeb's—announced that "Florida is prepared to reduce underage drinking by serving as a pilot" for a plan that includes increased alcohol taxes and roadblocks.
  
  
• Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico expressed interest in a bill to ban anyone convicted of a DUI from buying liquor for five years.
  
  
• Adopting the slogan, "If you drink and drive, you lose your ride," the Los Angeles City Council considered the Giuliani-esque tactic of seizing and auctioning off suspected drunk drivers' cars-before they've been to court and convicted of the crime.
  
  
• The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defined drunk down. Now "binge drinking" means reaching .08% BAC. You're engaging in "risky drinking" if you reach just .05% BAC. So if you serve a customer as little as two drinks over a meal, you're facilitating "risky" behavior. Expect the next step to be attempts to adjust dram shop laws to reflect new liability for on- premise licensees.

Find out how General Motors supports speeding but wants social drinkers arrested.

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The American Beverage Licensees has a campaign to expose the neo-prohibitionist agenda. Click on the links above to find out who wants to restrict your consumption of adult beverages.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact us at (202) 463-7100