The Declaration of Independence grants us certain unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If we keep title to those rights then why does the United States Constitution contradict them with the ratification of the 21st amendment? Alcoholism is a disease that has the power to take control of one's life. Progressives of the 18 and 1900's knew all too well the dangers of alcohol consumption. Many thought it would protect society from the poverty and violence associated with drinking. After the 18th amendment passed, the use of alcohol did decline for a few years, especially among the poor. In 1919, the making, selling, transporting, importing, and exporting of intoxicating beverages became illegal. Unfortunately, in 1933 prohibition ended and we adopted the 21st amendment. I think it is time to rethink this amendment and hopefully after understanding what alcohol is capable of, you will too.
No one under 21 years of age is allowed to consume alcohol, however not enough people are abiding by the law. Almost one half (47.9%) of seniors drink alcohol at least once a month, 19.8% drink at least once a week. Nearly one third (30.7%) of ninth graders drink some kind of alcohol monthly and at least 12% drink once a week. An astonishing 13.2% of seventh graders and 6.6% of sixth graders drink alcohol regularly.
Crime is inextricably related to alcohol and other drugs (AOD). More than 1.1 million annual arrests for illicit drug violations, almost 1.4 million arrests for driving while intoxicated, 480,000 arrests for liquor law violations and 704,000 arrests for drunkenness come to a total of 4.3 million arrests for alcohol and other drug statutory crimes. That accounts for over one-third of all arrests in the country. The impaired judgement and violence induced by alcohol contribute to alcohol-related crime such as rapes, fights, and assaults leading to injury, manslaughter, and homicide. The economic cost of AOD-related crime is $61.8 billion annually.
The need for the repeal of the 21st amendment is clear when the following statistics are examined: Alcohol is a key factor in up to 68% of manslaughter's, 62% of assaults, 54% of murders/attempted murders, 48% of robberies, and 44% of burglaries. Among jail inmates, 42.2% of those convicted of rape reported being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense.
In 1987, 64% of all reported child abuse and neglect cases in New York City were associated with AOD abuse. In 1992, there were 6,839 deaths due to alcohol. There were 1,154 deaths from direct alcohol related problems and 5,685 deaths indirectly due to alcohol. Alcohol related deaths accounted for 9.4% of all deaths. Of all direct alcohol related deaths, 74.8% are disease and cirrhosis. The rest are due to alcohol dependence syndrome (18.2%), toxic effects of alcohol (2.2%), alcoholics psychoses (2.0%), alcoholics cardiomypathy (2.0%), and alcoholic gastritis (0.8%).
In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn alcoholism is portrayed as a human weakness, constantly accentuating the drunk and violent father of Huck in a very negative manner. Huck describes his father's actions when drunk in this quote; "He chased me with a clasp knife and saying he would kill me." Pap came to ask Huck for money. In essence, money is the only thing Pap really needs from Huck. Ultimately, Pap spends all of the money he gets on whisky.
As shown in the above paragraphs, alcohol is a very powerful drug. It destroys families and takes control of even the strongest men. Alcoholism changes the lives of everyone in its path. It can tempt sane people to kill others and themselves. It takes over your mind and sometimes its incredibly hard to stop drinking. Knowing all the crushing evidence why do we continue to allow such deadly drinks into our lives? A simple drink of wine intended in the pursuit of happiness can lead to the pursuit towards your deathbed. If seems to me that the 21st amendment contradicts our inalienable rights of the Declaration of Independence. Do you think its time to reconsider adopting the 18th amendment again?

political cartoon:

Twenty-First Amendment (1933)
The eighteenth amendment is hereby repealed. Your United States government could not stop their reckless drinking so they do not expect you to be able to either. Its okay thought, we understand it is a terrible drug that can end lives and take control of your mind. It is now legal to destroy your body.