Liquor licensing is a carefully balanced process combining state laws and local ordinances. Liquor licensing is not designed to be a local revenue producer, yet it often can become one. All states have control in some form or another over liquor sales. Alcohol is often a benign beverage but it is also our most dangerous, legal, "controlled substance" and alcohol abuse cost over $65 billion annually in medical costs; these costs cover everything from alcohol-related accidents to disease.