Citation

Smart RG. J. Saf. Res. 1976; 8(3): 112-115.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1976, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Data from several countries have established a close, positive relationship between per capita alcohol consumption and liver cirrhosis, death rates. It was hypothesized that positive correlations would also exist between per capita consumption and liver cirrhosis deaths in a given area and: 1) proportion of all drivers with a positive BAC; 2) mean BAC of drivers; 3) proportion of drivers with BAC greater than 0.10%. Data from drinking driver surveys in five countries, a Canadian province, and 2 U.S. States were studied. The results showed a significant positive relationship only between per capita consumption and liver cirrhosis death rates and did not support the hypothesis that BACs in drivers are related to alcohol consumption or liver cirrhosis deaths. Several possible reasons for this result are offered. It appears, however, that drinking in the general population and in the driving population are not significantly positively related. Thus, efforts to reduce per capita consumption may not be effective in reducing the level of drinking and driving.