"Yes" answers Charles Krauthammer, respected columnist, in Time Magazine of Oct 6, 1997. Charles believes that alcohol is worse, for many reasons. One reason is, alcohol kills toddlers and teens in car-accidents. The title of his article reveals what he wants: New Prohibitionism.

Moderate daily consumption of beer or wine is healthy. Moderate daily consumption of tobacco is bad. That's the first distinction. My health is not threatened when the person at the next table drinks a beer, my health is threatened when this person smokes and I'm exposed to the smoke. That's a second difference. Alcohol has saved and still saves millions of lives all around the world every day, because it was and still is in large parts of the world the only healthy potable drink, or disinfectant, or pain killer people have. Not one life has been saved by tobacco. That's the third difference.

Inappropriate use of alcohol, cars, pills, knives, fat meat, skateboards, ladders, herbs, guns, vitamins, gas, water ... may kill. Do we have to outlaw all these things? Of course not. We would have to outlaw every thing. I believe there is something called "personal responsibility". It is never the "thing" that is to blame, but the person handling or consuming the "thing" who is responsible for what happens.

New Prohibitionism is not for tomorrow, but it is clear that once tobacco is outlawed, alcohol will be the next target for those who believe they are responsible for our well being. It is time to counter the emergence of New Prohibitionism now. Look out for who you vote. Write and speak up, if you want to continue to enjoy your favorite beer in the future.

(Newsletter November 1997)