Credit the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for targeting downtown Lincoln’s dangerous bar scene.

Executive Director Herbert Rupe says the commission wants to take action now rather than wait for a tragedy to occur.

Judging from the facts reported in the last week’s Journal Star Sunday Special, it’s only a matter of time.

Downtown bars are having a price war. For $10, a person can get 10 drinks, more than enough to put most people over the legal limit for driving. The booze is cheap enough to put alcohol poisoning within easy financial reach of the average college student.

The blood alcohol levels of people taken to the Cornhusker Place detox center are rising. On occasion, the detox center reaches capacity, and drunks are turned over to their friends.

“This has all the makings of having a disaster and having someone end up dead,” Nebraska Liquor Control Commissioner Robert Batt of Omaha said.

The economic downturn might be a factor. Competition for customers is fierce. Price is a factor.

Years ago the commission stepped in with regulations against  specific promotions linked to overconsumption, such as two-for-one drink specials and upside-down margaritas.

But it’s not easy to mesh alcohol regulations with the desire to remain true to the tenets of a free market.

There was a time, for example, when Lincoln officials limited the number of liquor licenses in the city. That policy eventually was overruled by the commission. Since then the number of liquor licenses granted for the city have far exceeded population growth.

Efforts have been made in the Legislature to limit the number of bars on the basis of population density. Those efforts, however, have been unsuccessful.

So far, the commission is encouraging voluntary action by the bars to limit cheap booze. Police Chief Tom Casady also held a meeting with bar managers last month on drink specials and related issues.

The commission also is exploring other regulatory changes, such as prohibiting bars from selling some drinks below cost. It would take months, however, before new regulations could take effect.

The challenge is considerable. Binge drinking seemingly is ingrained in the culture. Two years ago, the Centers for Disease Control rated Lincoln fourth in the country for binge drinking. Nearby states also ranked highly.

The effort by the commission is appreciated. So is the work of the Lincoln Police Department to keep matters from spiraling out of control. We hope they succeed in reversing the current trend before it’s too late.