257899 Effects of Smoke-free Laws on Alcohol-Related Car Crashes in California and New York: Time Series Analyses from 1982 to 2008

Monday, October 29, 2012

Alexander C. Wagenaar, PhD , College of Medicine, Dept of Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Debra H. Bernat, PhD , Department of Medical Humanities & Social Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Mildred Maldonado-Molina, PhD , College of Medicine, Dept of Health Outcomes & Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Introduction. We examined effects of New York and California's statewide smoke-free restaurant and bar polices on alcohol-related car crash fatalities, to test the contention by some that smoke-free laws may have unintended negative side effects in increasing alcohol-related car crashes. Method. New York and California were the first two large states to pass 100% statewide smoke-free restaurant and bar laws. An interrupted time series design from 1982-2008, with 312 monthly observations, was used to examine the effect of each state's law on single-vehicle-nighttime car crashes and crashes involving a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 g/dl or above. Additionally, we examined possible cross-border effects by analyzing effects of New York's smoke-free policy on alcohol-related car crashes in communities along the Pennsylvania-New York border. Results. Implementation of New York and California's 100% statewide smoke-free restaurant and bar policies were not associated with alcohol-related car crash fatalities. Additionally, analyses showed no effect of New York's smoke-free policy on alcohol-related car crash fatalities in communities along the Pennsylvania-New York border. Conclusion. Strong statewide smoke-free restaurant and bar laws do not appear to affect rates of alcohol-related car crashes.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe contention that smoke-free bar & restaurant indoor air laws might lead to deleterious side effect in increasing alcohol-related car crashes. Explain recent controlled time-series evaluation showing no effect of smoke-free laws on incidence of alcohol-related car crashes.

Keywords: Tobacco Policy, Alcohol

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Epidemiologist, full professor, published 170 papers in peer reviewed journals on empirical studies of public health issues.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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