Nobody knows why Edmonton’s murder rate has hit such staggering heights. However, the FBI in the l980s, made an intensive study in the U.S. that showed that alcohol — the dangerous, mind-altering, highly addictive drug — is associated with 70 per cent of murders.
Alberta has the highest per capita consumption of liquor in Canada.
The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, overcome with greed, can now boast that their profit for the fiscal year 2009-l0 is $724.3 million. It should be noted, however, that the sobering fact is that it costs taxpayers $l0 for every one of those dollars to pick up the pieces for the increase in crime and murders — along with the increase in jail costs, marital breakup, welfare costs, health care, etc.
Yet the Alberta government continues to use every possible means to continue to promote alcohol. Also assisting in booze sales is the fact that there is no lower drinking age in Canada, and most of the western world, than there is in Alberta. How many 16- and 17-year-olds get passed over in bars as being l8?
As of July l988, all U.S. states had set the drinking age at 21 — after hundreds of studies had been made. It was calculated that the number of intoxicated drivers killed in traffic crashes decreased by 25 per cent between l980 and l990. Evidence showed that 18- to 20-year-olds had the highest alcohol involvement rates in fatal crashes per mile driven. It was shown that inexperience with drinking, combined with inexperience with driving, increases the risk of a crash.
A higher drinking age places less risk, not only on young lives, but also on the lives of all drivers on a public highway.
The Conservatives in Alberta have had their day and deserve the boot!
Audrey Jensen
Red Deer