I kinda' sympathize. Indians are genetically predisposed toward alcoholism, if I'm wording that right. Something like 1 out of 10 whites is predisposed, but about 9 out of 10 Indians are. It's a disease, and frequently the only choice is the first choice. And how many of us can pass up a drink?

Only thing is, for Indians I have known, they absolutely have lost control after that first drink. Simply no such thing as having "a beer." I've seen a guy have that first beer, and then uncontrollably have another and another. My father and step-father were alcoholics, but nothing like I've seen among Indians.

Setting up a mega-beer or liquor business across the road from a dry Indian reservation is pretty incriminating as regards the business intent: "sell booze to Indians who have voted their own land dry."

Much as I believe in free will, it sorta' flies out the window for those born with the alcoholic gene.

I was surprised in the Dillingham, AK liquor store when I went to buy a case of beer. The clerk refused service and kicked out two natives who were known drunks. That almost seems like illegal discrimination, but everyone supports that kind of action in the small town, except the hopeless alcoholics who are desperate to buy more booze. Similar thing, a friend told me about a skipper on a fish buyer boat coming into a dry village near Togiak. Natives come out in skiffs asking if he has any booze. He hadn't planned it, but found a whiskey bottle about half full and traded it to a native for a walrus ivory carving that would have cost around $300. Alcoholism is a serious disease.

Sg