Use the chapter-specific citations; do not cite only the edited volume when a named chapter author supplies the evidence.
The available legal-consumption estimates and proxy series indicate that alcohol consumption decreased during national Prohibition, even though drinking and illicit supply persisted and no complete illegal-market count is possible.
The claim is directional rather than a precise effect estimate. The proxies are affected by reporting, enforcement, health lags, population assumptions, and illegal supply. Lower consumption does not establish overall policy success.
Lewis triangulates legal consumption with cirrhosis mortality and drunkenness arrests, explicitly discussing the weaknesses of each indicator before reaching a bounded directional conclusion.
Created from the complete text-and-visual review of Prohibition's Greatest Myths on 2026-08-27. Kept at Moderate confidence until independent corroboration is linked.
Evidence basis
Lewis triangulates legal consumption with cirrhosis mortality and drunkenness arrests, explicitly discussing the weaknesses of each indicator before reaching a bounded directional conclusion.
Qualifications
The claim is directional rather than a precise effect estimate. The proxies are affected by reporting, enforcement, health lags, population assumptions, and illegal supply. Lower consumption does not establish overall policy success.
Drafting rule
Preserve chapter authorship and the stated qualification. Do not broaden the claim beyond the linked evidence or convert it into an unqualified statement about every place, institution, or measurement series.