Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117107

Gina Stoduto, MA¹, Helen Sayward, MA², Linda C. Degutis, DrPH², and Norman A. Giesbrecht, PhD³. (1) Social, Prevention & Health Policy Research Department, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada, 416 535-8501 ext. 6895, gina_stoduto@camh.net, (2) Section of Emergency Medicine, Yale University, 464 Congress Ave, Suite 260, New Haven, CT 06519, (3) Center for Policy Analysis & Training, Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation, 11710 Beltsville Drive, Suite 300, Calverton, MD 20705-3102

Background: The need for and development of policy can be affected by media coverage of policy processes and events leading up to the development of specific policy. Purpose: To examine print media accounts pertaining to policy debates and decisions regarding changes in legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits and other measures to curtail driving while intoxicated (DWI) in the U.S. and Canada. Methods: We abstracted print media accounts regarding DWI policy by searching Lexis-Nexis for US and Canadian media for 1997-2003. Reports were coded for their inclusion of items such as key players in policy debates (including special interest groups), specific policy issues discussed, and bias or neutrality in the report. Only reports dealing with larger issues such as drinking and driving policies and regulations were included. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. Results: 1230 media reports were accessed; 107 from Canada and 1123 from the US. U.S. print media accounts were significantly more likely to mention key players in the beer, distilled spirits and hospitality industries, law enforcement, government, safety organizations, and MADD, whereas Canadian media accounts were significantly more likely to mention players in the business or private sector, health related organizations, and victims. Canadian accounts were significantly more likely to make a recommendation for policy change. Conclusions: U.S. and Canada's print media accounts related to DWI policy differ with respect to their focus on specific key players and Canadian reports were more likely to recommend policy change.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) describe media reports of discussions regarding DWI policy in the U.S. and Canada;
• 2) describe the possible impact of media reports on DWI policy

Keywords: Alcohol, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.