Investigators at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center examined the relationship between regulatory practices of alcohol-control agencies and alcohol-related traffic deaths in 107 cities that participate in the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Investigators surveyed state Alcohol Beverage Control agencies and local city police departments in the 107 cities and interviewed staff from alcohol-enforcement agencies in 20 cities.

The goal was to determine whether local policies and practices reduce alcohol-related automobile fatalities.

The project was part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's (RWJF) national Substance Abuse Policy Research Program (SAPRP).

Key Findings
The investigators reported their findings in an article in the February 2002 issue of Preventive Medicine:

• Lower rates of alcohol-related traffic fatalities, were found in states and communities that:
  • Limit alcohol accessibility.
  • Require licensure of outlets selling alcohol.
  • Provide for disciplinary actions against outlets that violate laws.
  • Enforce blood alcohol concentration laws.
• Alcohol-related fatalities were most effectively reduced with regulations that:
  • Restrict access to alcohol by prohibiting drive-through liquor stores.
  • Require kegs to be registered.
  • Prohibit drinking in public and in cars.
  • Prohibit people under age 21 from entering bars.
  • Require outlets that serve alcohol to serve food as well.
  • Restrict alcohol at sports events.
  • Reduce the number of outlets per 100,000 people.

Funding
RWJF provided a $263,711 grant from 1997 to 2000 to fund the study.

The principal investigator received a subsequent SAPRP grant (ID# 042190) to determine whether alcohol-control policies are associated with alcohol-related deaths in areas other than traffic fatalities.