Dear David and ATHG listserv group: I too noted and clipped the  NYT article.
 A fascinating piece.  It will be interesting to see if a similar sort of
tend holds up for France or the Paris region.  Certainly, during the 19th
century when the number of bars in Paris skyrocketed the murder rate did not
keep pace.  What has happened in the 20th century is the subject of my
research now.  It would be interesting to see what other scholars working on
other nations think about whether a similar sort of trend is occurring
outside of the USA.  My feeling is that the article may be overstating the
case even for America.  But let us see what others think.  Sincerely, Scott
Haine