It’s Never Been Easier in America to Get Buzzed

Mr. Lopez is a writer for the editorial board.

It has never been easier to be intoxicated all day, every day in the United States.

Consider a few trends:

In 1950, the typical American would have had to spend 75 percent of his or her daily pay (after taxes) to buy a bottle of vodka. Today, that number is less than 5 percent. Atrophying alcohol taxes and growing incomes have effectively brought the cost down to one-fifteenth of what it once was.

In 1950, the typical American would have had to spend 75 percent of his or her daily pay (after taxes) to buy a bottle of vodka. Today, that number is less than 5 percent. Atrophying alcohol taxes and growing incomes have effectively brought the cost down to one-fifteenth of what it once was.

The legalization of marijuana made it much easier for anyone to buy the drug. It also has made the drug cheaper. In Oregon, the average price of marijuana per gram is down more than 60 percent since legalization.

The legalization of marijuana made it much easier for anyone to buy the drug. It also has made the drug cheaper. In Oregon, the average........

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