LETTERS: ZERO TOLERANCE ON ALCOHOL ABUSE

To the editor:

Thank you for suggesting the use of weekly sobriety checkpoints in your recent editorial regarding the Morgan Oak checkpoint on Halloween night. As Steve Narrow pointed out in his letter, alcohol-related crime far surpasses those associated with all illegal drugs combined. Driving under the influence is indeed a behavior that can be changed with strict enforcement of existing laws. Since most illegal drug addictions begin with alcohol abuse, the concept of zero tolerance will be most effective if we commit the same level of resources to alcohol-related crime that we have committed to the illegal drugs. JIM MAGINELCommunity 2000 Support CenterSoutheast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau