Local booze bans may increase meth production

Production of the drug methamphetamine – more commonly referred to as meth – is more frequent in areas of the US where alcohol sales are banned, new research shows.

Research suggests local alcohol bans are resulting in greater number os meth-seizure labs

Three economists at the University of Louisville discovered that counties in Kentucky where alcohol is prohibited have more meth lab seizures per capita compared to counties where booze is legal.

“Local alcohol bans increase the costs of obtaining alcohol, which reduces the relative price of illicit drugs,” Jose Fernandez, Stephan Gohmann and Joshua Pinkston wrote in a study, Breaking Bad: Are Meth Labs Justified in Dry Counties, presented at the American Economic Association annual meeting in Boston on Sunday, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

“Additionally, these restrictions flatten the punishment gradient encouraging individuals who are willing to obtain alcohol illegally to also obtain illicit drugs.”

The trio looked at data from 2004 to 2010 for Kentucky, in which meth-lab seizures are fairly common and various local laws restrict alcohol sales.

They found there were two more meth-lab seizures per 100,000 citizens each year in local-prohibition areas compared to regions where alcohol sales are allowed.

“The results of this research are consistent with the unintended consequences of local alcohol bans predicted by economic theory,” the study concluded.

Last month, experts warned a ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol in Oman could lead to an increase in the illicit alcohol trade.