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Estimating the Relationship between Alcohol Policies and Criminal Violence and Victimization

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  • Sara Markowitz
  • Erik Nesson
  • Eileen Poe-Yamagata
  • Curtis Florence
  • Partha Deb
  • Tracy Andrews
  • Sarah Beth L. Barnett

Abstract

Violence is one of the leading social problems in the United States. The development of appropriate public policies to curtail violence is confounded by the relationship between alcohol and violence. In this paper, 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. These results provide policy makers with guidance on potential approaches for reducing violence through alcohol beverage control.

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  • Sara Markowitz & Erik Nesson & Eileen Poe-Yamagata & Curtis Florence & Partha Deb & Tracy Andrews & Sarah Beth L. Barnett, 2012. "Estimating the Relationship between Alcohol Policies and Criminal Violence and Victimization," NBER Working Papers 17918, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:17918
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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. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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 774, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    5. 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.
    6. Saloni Khurana & Kanika Mahajan, 2019. "Public Safety for Women: Is Regulation of Social Drinking Spaces Effective?," Working Papers 1017, Ashoka University, Department of Economics.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. Iain W. Long & Kent Matthews & Vaseekaran Sivarajasingam, 2023. "Environment, alcohol intoxication and overconfidence: Evidence from a lab‐in‐the‐field experiment," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 91(5), pages 389-413, September.
    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. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. Erik Nesson, 2017. "Heterogeneity in Smokers' Responses to Tobacco Control Policies," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(2), pages 206-225, February.
    14. 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.

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

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