Effects of Prices, Civil and Criminal Sanctions, and law Enforcement on Alcohol-Related Mortality

The effects of public policies on mortality rates in the USA were analyzed by state & by year for 1982-88. Suicide was among the causes of death which were analyzed. Some of the findings include: 1) alcohol price has statistically significant & negative effects on suicides with time & state variables included; 2) neither dram shop laws nor mandatory jail terms for driving under the influence were found to have a statistical impact on suicide deaths; 3) race had no effect on suicides. (75 refs.)