This was already tried: it was called 'Prohibition.' 

People still found ways to get alcohol.  The mafia started smuggling it into underground clubs.  Violence ensued and people died.

People started making their own, from bathtub gin to moonshine. People got sick, went blind, or died from bad batches, btw. (which is why it's a government regulated substance - quality control)  

Also: the government started poisoning alcohol in certain places so that people would die as a deterrent. I know that sounds like "Alaska-conspiracy-theory-crazy" but here's an article in Slate (http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2010/02/the_chemists_war.html)

Moral of the Story: Prohibition was a failure.  A new Prohibition in 2016 isn't going to solve anything.  People are sneaky and creative.  The Valley sure has a lot of potatoes, btw...