That legendary man of letters, Samuel Johnson, once opined that “Abstinence is as easy to me as temperance would be difficult”. Over the centuries, many have shared at least part of Johnson’s sentiment as regards the temptations offered by spirits, and just as many have concerned themselves with the cause of cautioning others about alcohol and its potentially pernicious effects. The good people...

The temperance movement in the United States gained steam in the late 19th century, and by the early 20th century, many political candidates would be asked "Are you 'dry' or 'wet?'" This single issue led to the creation of the 18th Amendment in 1919, which effectively prohibited the manufacturing, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors. After fourteen years, the 21st Amendment was passed,...

While people may have seen individuals with a jacket that reads "ATF Agent", they may have only a vague understanding of what the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) does. As a law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice, the ATF is "dedicated to preventing terrorism, reducing violent crime, and protecting our Nation." On the homepage, users can read...

TRAC, a nonpartisan "data gathering, data research and data distribution organization" located at Syracuse University (last reviewed in the April 16, 1999 Scout Report-- http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/report/sr/1999/scout-990416.html#4), has put up a new edition of its Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) site. Drawing data from a variety of sources, TRAC has found that referrals for federal...