Alcohol can unquestionably cause harm to individuals and society. Criminalisation of alcohol would cause crimes committed by the illicit trade, but it would address the harms associated with alcohol dependence and the misery that this can cause to families.

Criminalisation would also send the right message to young and vulnerable people who have the potential risk of becoming addicted to alcohol.

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alcohol-misuse/Pages/Introduction.aspx