How should a society deal with drugs?

[CORed]

[ QUOTE ]
If nearly "all" drugs were legalized, what kind of effect would that have on our economy? It seems like it could have a crippling effect on some entertainment industries, such as bars, restaurants, clubs, and any industry that relies on alcohol sales.

Obviously the minority of the population does "illegal" drugs, with the majority of them doing marijuana, but I doubt I and many others would go out nearly as often if there was a limitless supply of green.

[/ QUOTE ]

If there is a shift in demand from alcohol to other drugs, it just means that bars and liquor stores will need to adjust their purchasing and inventory accordingly, assuming there are no legal impediments to doing so. Manufacturers may have to make some investment in capacity to produce other products. I really don't see a problem here, although certainly there are a lot of businessmen who seem to think it's the government's job to protect them from competition.