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Drink and drive? Understanding the dynamics of youth risk‐taking

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  • Stefan Boes
  • Steven Stillman

Abstract

We exploit a reduction in the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) in New Zealand from 20 to 18 to study the dynamics of youth risk‐taking. Using the universe of road accidents over 15 years and an event history approach, we find no evidence that lowering the drinking age increased alcohol‐related accidents among teens. Complementary results of a cohort analysis suggest that reducing the drinking age even led to a short‐term decline in risky driving among youths directly affected by the MLDA change but had no longer‐run impacts on youth risky driving and drinking behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Boes & Steven Stillman, 2024. "Drink and drive? Understanding the dynamics of youth risk‐taking," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(10), pages 2381-2398, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:33:y:2024:i:10:p:2381-2398
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.4875
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    References listed on IDEAS

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