Cato Podcast Repeal Day: Alcohol Prohibition and the Hypocrisy of the Drug War
Dec 4, 2025
Jeff Singer and Michael Fox highlight the destructive parallels between alcohol prohibition and today's drug war. They discuss how both policies fuel black markets and empower violent traffickers. The conversation critiques government actions that increase risks, like poor policing practices and moralistic drug policies. They address the racial disparities in enforcement and advocate for harm reduction strategies, such as safe consumption sites and clean-syringe programs. The episode suggests that legalization can undermine cartels and emphasizes the need for a consistent, liberty-based approach to substance use.
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Prohibition Repeats A Century-Old Mistake
- Alcohol prohibition created black markets, enriched gangsters, and corrupted officials in the 1920s.
- Jeff Singer argues drug prohibition repeats the same destructive logic today.
State Makes Prohibition Safer By Poisoning
- Government actions during alcohol prohibition actively poisoned legal alcohol supplies to deter use.
- Mike Fox and Jeff Singer note the state sometimes makes substances more harmful to enforce prohibition.
Prioritize Harm Reduction Over Punishment
- Practice harm reduction rather than criminalization to reduce deaths and suffering.
- Jeff Singer recommends making naloxone and other safety measures widely available to respect autonomy and save lives.