CHANGE IN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE PRICES AND LEGAL DRINKING AGES: EFFECTS ON YOUTH ALCOHOL USE AND MOTOR VEHICLE MORTALITY

This article presents the first set of estimates of the responsiveness of youth alcohol use and motor vehicle death rates to variations in the price of alcohol. In addition, it examines the sensitivity of these two outcome measures to changes in the legal drinking age. Findings indicate that the use of alcohol by youths (teenagers and young adults) declines when either the price of alcoholic beverages or the legal drinking age increases. In statistical terms, youth alcohol consumption is inversely related at a statistically significant level to beverage price and legal minimum drinking age. Price and legal drinking age are particularly important as determinants of beer consumption. Data analysis through multiple regression indicates a statistically significant decline in the motor vehicle accident mortality rate with the effects of a real beer tax for youths aged 15 through 17, 18 through 20, and 21 through 24. Also, changes in the minimum drinking age produced statistically significant inverse effects on accident mortality for youths aged 18 to 20.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0090838X
• Corporate Authors:

  US National Inst on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism

  P.O. Box 2345
  Rockville, MD  United States  20852
• Authors:
  • Coate, D
  • GROSSMAN, M
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 22-25
• Serial:
  • Alcohol Health and Research World
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: US National Inst on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism
  • ISSN: 0090-838X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Fatalities; Legal drinking age; Prices; Statistical analysis; Taxation; Traffic crashes; Young adults
• Uncontrolled Terms: Beer; Mortality rates; Motor vehicle accidents
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00490044
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-040 449
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Dec 31 1989 12:00AM