ALCOHOL-RELATED CASUALTIES AND ALCOHOL BEVERAGE MARKET RESPONSE TO BEVERAGE ALCOHOL AVAILABILITY POLICIES IN MICHIGAN. VOLUME I

The research reported is an examination of the consequences of the 18-year-old drinking age in Michigan on traffic crash involvements between 1972 and 1975. Also the interaction of retail alcohol availability with the lower legal drinking age is analyzed. Crash data representing Michigan and specific subunits of Michigan were used. Comparisons of different age groups with time-series analyses isolated a persistent traffic accident increase among 18-20-year-old drivers. Analyses of data provided by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission revealed that may factors affect the number of retail sales applications that are approved for different types of alcohol beverage licensure. These factors include legislation, court decisions, policy and repeating events such as the U.S. Census. The lower legal drinking age has been responsible for at least 4600 alcohol-related crash involvements between 1972 and 1975, of which at least 89 included at least one fatality. The availability of beverage alcohol increased at or about the same time that the legal drinking age became 18 and the volume of beer, wine and distilled spirits increased steadily during the time period. Draught beer consumption increased significantly probably directly associated with the lower legal drinking age. /HSRI/

• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Safety Research Institute

  Huron Parkway and Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109
• Authors:
  • Douglass, R L
  • Freedman, J A
• Publication Date: 1977-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 124 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Alcohols; Alternatives analysis; Crash rates; Drunk driving; Laws; Supply; Time series analysis; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Availability; Motor vehicle accidents
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00178250
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Urban Mass Transportation Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-HSRI-77-37-1 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 19 1978 12:00AM