OHIO
Although the French wine, "Fat Bastard," is now distributed in states across the US., Ohio has banned its sale within their borders. 43 Not only does Ohio try to protect young and impressionable children who presumably never watch TV and don‘t have peers, but it also tries to protect its fish. State law prohibits getting a fish drunk. 44
OKLAHOMA
The University of Oklahoma now bans any consumption of alcohol in dorms and fraternity houses, even by students of legal age. “Is this going to stop people from drinking?“ asked a local police officer. “No. You are just displacing the problem somewhere else.” The well-intentioned policy has already driven much drinking off campus into uncontrolled locations.
There will probably be other unintended effects as well. A senior student pointed out that people will continue to drink but that the consequences would be different. She observed that “people used to trip and fall on their way home, now they’re going to smash into each other in their cars.”
The University‘s legal responsibility for protecting student safety extends beyond the campus. To the extent that the university shifts drinking off campus into uncontrolled environments it increases the dangers to students and also increases its exposure to legal liability.
Many colleges and universities prefer to provide safe drinking environments on campus where potential harm can be reduced and students can be more effectively protected. Many schools have also established social norms programs that reduce both the consumption and the abuse of alcohol. 45
PENNSYLVANIA
In Pennsylvania the tax on wine and spirits is called the Jamestown Flood tax because it was imposed in 1936 to raise funds to help the city of Jamestown rebuild and recover from a devastating flood that year. The city of Jamestown quickly rebuilt and recovered but the tax still continues. It currently costs the taxpayers of the state over $160,000,000.00 each year. 46
RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island never ratified the 18 Amendment establishing Prohibition. 47
TENNESSEE
Some Tennessee state rules regulating alcohol advertising are violations of First Amendment free speech rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, according to a legal opinion issued by the Tennessee Attorney General’s office.
In spite of that official legal opinion, the state continues enforcing its apparently unconstitutional restrictions on free speech. 49
TEXAS
Of Texas' 254 counties, 79 are still completely dry seven decades after the Repeal of Prohibition. Many of the remaining counties are "moist" or partially dry. Some permit one form of alcohol beverage but not another, some prohibit on-premise consumption (except for private clubs), some permit (believe it or not) on-premise but no off-premise consumption, and some have other strange variations, often directly across the street from each other. 50
The county in Texas with the highest DWI arrests among young drivers is "dry;" that is, prohibits the sale of alcohol. 51
Texas state law prohibits taking more than three sips of beer at a time while standing. 52
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