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From: werner@ut-ngp.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.legal
Subject: Re: booze laws
Message-ID: <612@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-May-84 16:55:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.612
Posted: Wed May 16 16:55:25 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 17-May-84 04:34:07 EDT
References: <1083@ihuxr.UUCP> <- left white on purpose, if you can't read this you are 'bugged' (buggered?)
Organization: Comp. Center, Univ. of Texas at Austin
Lines: 84

Are you aware that most of you have never tasted one of the most delicious
items in the world?

	Chocolate filled with fruits and alcohol ..... (MonCheri, for example)

Talking about stupid laws.  All in the name of protecting kids ... but you
may have guns, bottled booze, pharmaceuticals, cars, rat poison ....

On my first visit ever to this country, I ended up eating them by the boxful
before going through customs, to the detriment of our hosts ...
Since then, I get them 'smuggled' in by 'mules' (visiting tourists, who play
dumb) and by carrier-pigeons ... 	(just kidding, OF COURSE, hehe)

Another MOST IRRITATING obstacle to my way of living finds me at the
cash register after midnight not being able to buy my beer and wine
during my usual early morning grocery shopping outings, leaving you-know-what
behind.    $#@!%$#@&

SERIOUSLY, folks, the alcohol laws are one of the most detrimental laws
in this society.  It makes criminals out of our kids, randomly punished
in a high-stake lottery with a small probability of losing, but then losing
big.  It brings kids up in an environment where breaking the law is the
rule, and all respect for it is lost early on.  (Come to think of it, it has
the same effect on adults, driving after a coktail-party.)

When kids drink, they are out, usually in cars, driving, doing other
stupid things, getting themselves killed, maimed, into legal troubles,
and not least, because they can't take a half empty bottle home to store,
and because they have to sobber up before going home, cruising around, usually.
We must have a lot fewer people with criminal records in Germany, because
we never had those kind of troubles, partying at home and in bars without
ever being aware that elsewhere inthe world, (in a famous FREE country)
kids would get into troubles for that.

And the Mafia simply thrives by benefitting of alcohol, drug, and gambling laws
in this country, what is this, anyway? A kindergarten?  How dare anyone
tell us that we are not 'grown-up' enough to gamble, smoke a joint, buy beer
on a Sunday morning, etc?

In my opinion, anyone who defends the current laws, is close to 'criminal
negligence' in that their effect is deadly on our youth and society as a
whole.  FREEDOM means not being limited in what we may or may not do,
while the LAW should dole out punishment to those who infringe the
FREEDOM of others.  PREVENTIVE LEGISLATION by limiting the freedom of one
to protect the freedom of others is a very dangerous way to go, indeed,
and should be restricted to matters regulating items which have an
explicit purpose and high probability of harming others, like atomic bombs
and hand-guns, for example. Filled chocolates don't fall into that category,
neither does selling beer.  Regulating does not mean outlawing, I don't
mind if you keep a hand-gun at a shooting range in a locker, and get your
kicks by blasting away at targets, BUT even pointing a gun at another
person or handling it carelessly, otherwise, at the range should be
SEVERELY punished.

SOLUTIONS (I always try to have a suggestion, at least):

1) Abolish all laws restricting the use of liquor.  Pass laws, SEVERELY
	punishing acts resulting from losing control under the influence.
	like accidents caused by drunk drivers, but not a certain level
	of alcohol in the blood, when stopped while driving perfectly
	normal.  Or acts of aggression against kids, wife, anyone.

   Gradual age-reduction, like going to 18, only lengthens the agony caused
	by the change.  But it's like going metric: first it hurts a little,
	but your grand-children will thank you.

2) Tax the alcohol and use the proceeds to cover costs inflicted on society
	from abuse, as well as to help those who suffer from alcohol abuse.
	Maybe add a luxury tax, and a charity tax to go a variety of charities,
	whatever, but not to the point of totally destroying the relationship
	between cost and price of the article.

Remember, that this country was (supposedly) founded by people who fled
oppression in religion and life-style (and economics), let's not have that
evil enter through the back-door of passing life-style regulating laws by
majority-vote, remember that both Hitler and Mussolini were voted into office,
and then people could not get rid of them anymore without a major disaster.
Unfortunately, many laws passed by those regimes are still on the books today,
as well as social laws passed as far back as the mid-19th century.  In the
interest of future generations, maybe all laws should be passed with a
sunset clause, abolishing them automatically, and allowing our children to
determine their own way of life with ease rather than pain.

Ahhh, I got carried away rambling ....