Uh guys, we tried that before, called it "Prohibition."

[Archae]

Only group that benefited were the gangsters like Al Capone.

MADISON — Jeff Wielichowski drowned in his family's pool two summers ago after drinking a mix of Gatorade, Red Bull and Everclear with some friends.

At 190 proof, or 95 percent alcohol, Everclear packs more than twice the punch of the best-selling brands of whiskey, vodka and gin. And at about $18 per bottle, it has long been a popular ingredient in boozy punches served at parties in and around college campuses.

That may change soon in Wisconsin, where Wielichowski's mother, Luanne Wielichowski, has channeled her grief into pushing state lawmakers to ban the sale of high-potent liquors like Everclear. A bill that would ban the sale of alcohol that's 190-proof or higher is gathering bipartisan support in the Legislature and could be voted on early next year.

http://www.sheboyganpress.com/viewart/20131231/SHE0101/312310227/Wisconsin-eyes-Everclear-strong-liquor-ban-14-

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. It's already illegal in 14 other states.

[Archae]

3. I guess that means there aren't any problems with booze in those states...

Yeah, right.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. It's been illegal in my state (MN) for many years, but

college students still manage to get stinking drunk on all sorts of things. So outlawing everclear doesn't seem to have solved that problem.

[ManiacJoe]

4. Yup. Illegal in WA state.

Back in college, someone would make the road trip to Portland, OR, to bring back a bottle or two.

[arcane1]

2. Wow, Red Bull and Everclear!

What could go wrong?

[Codeine]

6. I think there's quite a gap between Prohibition and regulating ABV.

High-test Everclear isn't legal in my state and I haven't noticed a burgeoning black market for the stuff.

Everclear is dangerous -- inexperienced drinkers underestimate just how powerful it is and can get hurt.

[Archae]

7. So banning it solved all the drinking problems in your state?

[Codeine]

8. A rather transparent strawman ya got there, Archae.

Nobody's made any such argument, have they?

This is about taking one particularly potent alcohol product off the market, not ushering in a New Age of Temperance and TeeTotal Utopia. Basic product regulation.

[Archae]

9. You really think the Temperance fundys ever gave up?

They get to ban Everclear, they'll go for banning brandy and whisky.

Look how well banning pot works.

[Codeine]

10. Huh? They banned top-strength Everclear here and there's plenty of booze for sale still.

My store will move about four grand worth of it off the shelves tonight, in fact. Nobody's moved to ban that shit.

[Archae]

13. Yet.

[cthulu2016]

11. People make absurd demands... and sometimes get their way

Everclear is alcohol. That's all it is.

Sometimes people use poor judgement in drinking large amounts of alcohol, with tragic results.

99% of these episodes of bad judgement don't involve Everclear.

[Archae]

14. Exactly.

But some college kid drinks themselves into the grave on (fill in the blank beverage,) the "grieving parent(s)" want to ban what ever they were drinking.

Now it's Everclear, next it'll be Jack Daniels, then Bud Light.

[madinmaryland]

12. I tried Bacardi 151 years ago in College.

Actually bought a bottle of it. Four cocktails and I would experience black-out. When you get to that level it does scary shit to you and it doesn't take very much to seriously fuck you up.

Scary shit.

[nomorenomore08]

15. I've ordered a 151 and Coke at a bar before. Cost me 7 bucks or something.

Got a pretty heavy buzz off of one drink though.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. Me, too. Mixed it with cherry Kool-Aid.

Got absolutely hammered in no time; spent most of the night calling Ralph on the big white phone. :shudder: Needless to say, I never touched that stuff again.

[BainsBane]

16. Moonshine and bootleg are illegal too

Have been for ages, and that hasn't heralded in a new prohibition. Pure alcohol is much more likely to kill people through alcohol poisoning. Your point is like saying meat safety standards are The same as banning meat. They aren't.