Dry County Alcohol-Related Traffic Crashes are Always Higher

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.)

dry county alcohol-relatedAs 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

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