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Estimating the Relationship between Alcohol Policies and Criminal Violence and Victimization

Author

Listed:
  • Markowitz Sara

    (Emory University, 201 Dowman Dr,Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America)

  • Poe-Yamagata Eileen

    (IMPAQ International, LLC, Columbia,Maryland, United States of America)

  • Andrews Tracy

    (IMPAQ International, LLC, Columbia,Maryland, United States of America)

  • Deb Partha

    (Hunter College, 695 Park Ave,New York, United States of America)

  • Nesson Erik

    (Ball State University, 2000 W University Ave,Muncie, United States of America)

  • Florence Curtis

    (Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta,Georgia, United States of America)

  • Barnett Sarah Beth L.

    (Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta,Georgia, United States of America)

Abstract

Violence is one of the leading social problems in both Europe and the United States. The development of appropriate public policies to curtail violence is confounded by the relationship between alcohol and violence. In this article, we estimate the propensity of alcohol control policies to reduce the perpetration and victimization of criminal violence. We measure violence with data on individual-level victimizations from the U.S. National Crime Victimization Survey. We examine the effects of a number of different alcohol control policies in reducing violent crime. These policies include the retail price of beer, drunk driving laws and penalties, keg laws and serving and selling laws. We find some evidence of a negative relationship between alcohol prices and the probability of alcohol- or drug-related assault victimizations. However, we find no strong evidence that other alcohol policies are effective in reducing violent crimes.

Suggested Citation

  • Markowitz Sara & Poe-Yamagata Eileen & Andrews Tracy & Deb Partha & Nesson Erik & Florence Curtis & Barnett Sarah Beth L., 2012. "Estimating the Relationship between Alcohol Policies and Criminal Violence and Victimization," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 13(4), pages 416-435, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:germec:v:13:y:2012:i:4:p:416-435
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0475.2012.00574.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Bindler & Randi Hjalmarsson & Nadine Ketel & Andreea Mitrut, 2024. "Discontinuities in the Age-Victimisation Profile and the Determinants of Victimisation," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(657), pages 95-134.
    2. Andrés Ham & Darío Maldonado & Michael Weintraub & Andrés Felipe Camacho & Daniela Gualtero, 2022. "Reducing Alcohol‐Related Violence with Bartenders: A Behavioral Field Experiment," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(3), pages 731-761, June.
    3. Arlen Guarín & Carlos Medina & Jorge Andrés Tamayo, 2013. "The Effects of Punishment of Crime in Colombia on Deterrence, Incapacitation, and Human Capital Formation," Borradores de Economia 10972, Banco de la Republica.
    4. Saloni Khurana & Kanika Mahajan, 2019. "Public Safety for Women: Is Regulation of Social Drinking Spaces Effective?," Working Papers 1017, Ashoka University, Department of Economics.
    5. Long, Iain W & Matthews, Kent & Sivarajasingam, Vaseekaran, 2019. "Behavioural Change and Alcohol-Fuelled Violence: A Field Experiment," Cardiff Economics Working Papers E2019/9, Cardiff University, Cardiff Business School, Economics Section.
    6. Erik Nesson, 2017. "Heterogeneity in Smokers' Responses to Tobacco Control Policies," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(2), pages 206-225, February.
    7. Erik Nesson & Vinish Shrestha, 2021. "The effects of false identification laws on underage alcohol‐related traffic fatalities," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(9), pages 2264-2283, September.
    8. Saloni Khurana & Kanika Mahajan, 2022. "Public Safety for Women: Is Regulation of Social Drinking Spaces Effective?," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(1), pages 164-182, January.
    9. Erik Nesson & Vinish Shrestha, 2016. "The Effects of False Identification Laws with a Scanner Provision on Underage Alcohol-Related Traffic Fatalities," Working Papers 2016-17, Towson University, Department of Economics, revised Apr 2020.
    10. Laurie J. Bates & Resul Cesur & Rexford E. Santerre, 2015. "Short‐run marginal medical costs from booze and butts: Evidence from the states," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 81(4), pages 1074-1095, April.
    11. Andrés Ham & Darío Maldonado & Michael Weintraub & Andrés Felipe Camacho & Daniela Gualtero, 2019. "Reducing Alcohol-Related Violence: A Field Experiment with Bartenders," Documentos de trabajo 17834, Escuela de Gobierno - Universidad de los Andes.
    12. Long, Iain W & Matthews, Kent & Sivarajasingam, Vaseekaran, 2022. "Overconfidence, Alcohol and the Environment: Evidence from a Lab-in-the-Field Experiment," Cardiff Economics Working Papers E2022/6, Cardiff University, Cardiff Business School, Economics Section.
    13. Barrie M. Craven & Michael L. Marlow & Alden F. Shiers, 2013. "The Economics of Minimum Pricing for Alcohol," Economic Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 174-189, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Alcohol; crime; public policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I0 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General
    • K0 - Law and Economics - - General

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