Alcohol regulation and domestic violence towards children

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1998

Abstract

In recent years, economists have paid much attention to the demand for alcohol and the negative externalities associated with excessive drinking. Largely ignored in the literature is the link between alcohol use and domestic violence. Given the established positive relationship between alcohol consumption and acts of violence, the purpose of this paper is to examine the role that changes in the determinants of the demand for alcohol may play in reducing the incidence of violence aimed at children. Data on violence come from the 1976 Physical Violence in American Families survey. We estimate a model in which violent outcomes are affected by the state excise tax rate on beer, illegal drug prices, and other regulatory variables such as availability measures and laws restricting the advertising of alcohol. Results show that increasing the tax on beer can be an effective policy tool in reducing violence. Laws designed to make obtaining beer more difficult also may be effective in reducing violence, while restrictions on advertising and increases in illegal drug prices have no effects.

Identifier

22044439100 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Contemporary Economic Policy

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1465-7287.1998.tb00521.x

ISSN

10743529

First Page

309

Last Page

320

Issue

3

Volume

16

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS