There is so much research that there are things that we (as a society) could do to help cut down on the problems that drinking causes without prohibition. Some examples are: increase taxes, decrease the number of places that can sell alcohol, and putting limits on the number of bars that can open in any given area. We could also enforce existing regulations. In our town (state?) bartenders are not supposed to serve anyone who is visibly intoxicated. This so does not happen.
IMHO our problem, in addition to alcohol itself, is commerce. The alcohol industry, bars, etc depends on problem drinkers to make the large amounts of money they do.
Sorry...soapbox.