A recovering alcoholic explains why dry county alcohol-related crash rates are higher than in wet counties.
Dear Dr. Hanson:
Just a note. Thank you for writing the article noting the effect of dry counties on alcohol-related traffic accidents. (Dry Counties Have Higher DWI Fatality Rates.)
As a long-term recovered alcoholic living in an Arkansas dry county, I can readily verify your view. Dry counties should cause MORE alcohol-related traffic accidents.
Of course they do – an alkie HAS TO DRINK. And if that means having to drive a long distance home after drinking in a wet county, so be it. A classic case of back-firing legislation.
Believe me, Dr. Hanson. Dry county legislation has NEVER caused a serious drinker to reduce his consumption of alcohol. On the contrary, he just has to drive farther to drink or stock up on his home supply.
Unfortunately there’s a religious element involved that can be difficult to argue with. But the facts as you wrote them just might penetrate.
Regards, and most sincere thanks,
N. H.
Dry County Alcohol-Related Traffic Crashes
Web
Books & Articles
Wet/Dry Effects
- Gary, S., et al. Consideration of driver home county prohibition and alcohol-related vehicle crashes. Acc Anal Prev, 35(5), 641-648.
- Winn, R. and Giacopassi, D. Effects of county-level alcohol prohibition on crashes. Soc Sci Q, 74, 783-792.
Geography
- Bromley, R. and Nelson, A. Alcohol-related crime and disorder across urban space. Geofor, 33, 239-254.
- Jayne, M., et al. Geographies of alcohol, drinking and drunkenness. Prog Hum Geo, 32(2), 247–63.
- Moreno, C. and Wilton, R. Geographies of Drugs and Alcohol.
- Smith, C. and Hanham, R. Alcohol Abuse: Geographic Perspectives.
- Lipton, R. The spatial dynamics of violence and alcohol outlets. J Stud Alco, 63(2), 187-195.
- Shelton, N. and Savell, E. The geography of binge drinking. Health Place, 17(3), 782-792.
- Valentine, G. et al. Drinking Places. Social Geographies of Consumption.
- Wieczorek, W. Using geographic information systems. In: Wilson, R., and Dufour, M., (eds). Alcohol Problems in Small Geographic Areas. Pp. 137-162.