01082116

Component

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

State alcohol beverage laws are among the most complex and convoluted laws in existence today. They are often reminiscent of societal attitudes and morals that were in existence when Prohibition was established more than 80 years ago. Although many state legislatures have revisited some of these laws in the past 10 to 15 years, except for some slight modernizations, they remain generally intact. Yet despite their weaknesses, the laws and the agencies that enforce them remain important tools for society to achieve the broader goal of improved highway safety and protection of the public’s welfare. The men and women who enforce the nation’s alcohol beverage laws recognize they are engaged in a balancing act. On the one hand if they enforce the laws and regulations too aggressively then the agency and officers are subject to criticism and potential negative political exposure because they “don’t understand the pressures of modern business people.” On the other hand if they appear too understanding and enforcement seems lax then the agency and officers are criticized for bowing to industry pressure and not adequately protecting society from harms associated with alcohol sales. The strategies employed by alcohol law enforcement are quite advanced in their approach to the broad impact of alcohol in our society. This paper explores some of the diverse agencies who enforce these laws and surveys some of the promising prevention and law enforcement strategies being researched in this area.

01082101

English

pp 169-180

2007-11

Transportation Research Circular

Traffic Safety and Alcohol Regulation

Web

Figures (3) ; References; Tables (1)

Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Drunk driving; Highway safety; Law enforcement; Local government agencies; Police departments; State government agencies; State laws; Strategic planning

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

TRIS, TRB

Nov 29 2007 1:47PM

• Alcohol Policies in the Americas
• Alcohol Prices and Traffic Safety
• Alcohol Regulation and Traffic Safety: An Overview
• 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