Just in the state of CA alone-it costs the state 38million dollars a year in alcohol related problems like death, injury, health care expenditures, lost productivity in the workplace, crime, pain and suffering. In the state's largest county, LA, their total cost equals 11 million compared to the whole bay area, which costs only 1million. Another interesting fact is 90% of alcohol related crime costs come from violent crimes like rape, murder and assault and 26% of all traffic collisions are caused by alcohol which kills over 1000 people a year.  

Wow when you break it down like that, it's clear how big of a problem alcohol is.  I've been to LA on a few occasions and there are a lot of homeless people and people drinking in the streets.  It's legal there, so people take full advantage of it.  I'd hate to be on the streets at night, who knows what goes on...  If it weren't for all of these people being addicted to alcoholics, I'm sure they could do something productive with their lives.  Instead they commit crimes and cause problems for other people just to feed their addiction.