ALCOHOL: More state control needed

Privatize alcohol sale in Idaho, NEVER, since the 1933 control of sales of spirits has only become more liberal each year. Seventeen studies found that after privatization, alcohol sales increased by an average of 42 percent. Residents of control states consume 14 percent less spirits and 7 percent less total alcohol than residents of license states.

Compared to states that license private sellers of alcohol, states with retail monopolies over wine and spirits have:

• 14.5 percent fewer high school students reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days;

• a death rate for people under age 21 killed by alcohol impaired driving that is 9.3 percent lower.

Control states programs provide millions of dollars in annual revenue for state services and programs.

Idaho already allows retail beer and wine sales. If anything, let's bring that back to state control.

DONNY GARDINER

Coeur d'Alene