01082119

Component

http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/159420.aspx

Broadly defined, alcohol policy includes (a) formal legal and regulatory mechanisms, rules, and procedures for controlling consumption of alcohol or risky drinking behaviors and (b) enforcement of these measures (Grube, 2005; Grube and Nygaard, 2001, 2005; Toomey and Wagenaar, 1999). Such policies can be implemented at the national, state, local, or institutional level. Alcohol policies can focus on restricting access or availability, deterrence, or harm reduction, although the distinction among these approaches is often blurred. A number of policy options seem to be effective in reducing drinking and driving and alcohol-related crashes and fatalities, including price, lower per se blood alcohol contents, random breath testing or sobriety checkpoints, graduated driver licensing, zero tolerance laws, and higher legal drinking ages. Social host liability and dram shop liability appear promising for reducing drinking and drinking-related problems. There is some empirical support for responsible beverage service programs, particularly those that are mandated or motivated by reduction of liability. The evidence is growing for the effects of outlet license restrictions (e.g., outlet density, hours of sale). Evidence that designated driver and safe rides programs are effective strategies for preventing drinking and driving is largely lacking. For many policy strategies there is simply not sufficient research to evaluate their effects. Such research should be conducted to inform policy or at least to evaluate policies as they are implemented.

01082101

English

pp 13-30

2007-11

Transportation Research Circular

Traffic Safety and Alcohol Regulation

Web

References

Alcohol breath tests; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Designated drivers; Drinking establishments; Drunk driving; Graduated licensing; Law enforcement; Laws; Legal drinking age; Liability; Per se laws; Policy; Prices; Regulations; Research; Sobriety checkpoints; Traffic safety; Zero tolerance

Safe ride programs

Highways; Law; Policy; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor

TRIS, TRB

Nov 28 2007 2:19PM

• Alcohol Law Enforcement: Agencies, Methods, and Impact
• Alcohol Policies in the Americas
• Alcohol Prices and Traffic Safety
• Alcohol Regulation in Sweden and the European Union: Effects on Road Safety
• Alcohol Sales and Service to Underage Youth and Intoxicated Patrons: Effects of Responsible Beverage Service Training and Enforcement Interventions
• Detecting Alcohol Impairment by Observation of Intoxication
• Enhanced Enforcement of Laws Prohibiting Sale of Alcohol to Minors: Systematic Review of Effectiveness for Reducing Sales and Underage Drinking
• Legal Framework for Alcohol Regulation in the United States
• Limits on Hours of Sales and Service: Effects on Traffic Safety
• Limits on Outlet Density and Location: Effects on Traffic Safety
• Minimum Purchase Age Laws: How Effective Are They in Reducing Alcohol-Impaired Driving?
• Status of 14 Under-Age-21 Drinking Laws in the United States
• The Effects of Establishing Closing Hours in Juarez, Mexico
• The Importance of Alcohol Regulation at All Levels: Bringing It All Together—Lessons from Underage Drinking Controls
• Traffic Safety and Alcohol Regulation: Overview and Summary