Changes in the form of alcohol availability: Illustration of design and analyses for policy-relevant research

Abstract

Public policies concerning the availability and price of alcohol are rarely implemented in any country based upon controlled experimental research. Most often alcohol policy changes are implemented and then research into their effects can be conducted. This paper describes two policy studies in North Carolina which analyzed changes in distilled spirits sales (apparent consumption of spirits) and alcohol-involved traffic crashes following a major change in the form of spirits availability. Relative strengths of design and the need to consider other factors are discussed.