Page 1 of 1

Alcohol and crime

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:27 am
by Sangoma
Since the start of Covid epidemic in South Africa the government banned alcohol sales, which was a pretty drastic measure, given the rates of drinking in that country being very high. However, in the next few months crime rate dropped significantly. At least part of it is due to the absence of alcohol and as the result less aggression from angry drunkards.

https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifesty ... down-cele/

I saw similar effect in the mid-eighties when I started working as a junior surgeon. As part of social changes Gorbachev effectively introduced the Prohibition, a very strict control and limitation of alcohol sales. In just a few months violent trauma (mostly lacerated heads) we saw in A&E dropped dramatically.

I wonder what would happen rime wise if they replaced alcohol with other psychoactive substances, such as marijuana and/or ecstasy.

Re: Alcohol and crime

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:37 pm
by Fat Cat
Gee, if only somebody had tried that before.

https://www.history.com/news/prohibitio ... -al-capone

Re: Alcohol and crime

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:45 pm
by nafod
Sangoma wrote: Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:27 am I wonder what would happen rime wise if they replaced alcohol with other psychoactive substances, such as marijuana and/or ecstasy.
I looked but couldn't find the article that talked about how fighting had gone down at the Denver Broncos games since marijuana became part of the tailgating mix.