Citation

Moore AJ. Transp. Res. Circular 2007; (E-C123): 169-180.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, U.S. National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

State alcohol beverage laws are among the most complex and convoluted laws in existence today. They are often reminiscent of societal attitudes and morals that were in existence when Prohibition was established more than 80 years ago. Although many state legislatures have revisited some of these laws in the past 10 to 15 years, except for some slight modernizations, they remain generally intact. Yet despite their weaknesses, the laws and the agencies that enforce them remain important tools for society to achieve the broader goal of improved highway safety and protection of the public?s welfare. The men and women who enforce the nation?s alcohol beverage laws recognize they are engaged in a balancing act. On the one hand if they enforce the laws and regulations too aggressively then the agency and officers are subject to criticism and potential negative political exposure because they ?don?t understand the pressures of modern business people.? On the other hand if they appear too understanding and enforcement seems lax then the agency and officers are criticized for bowing to industry pressure and not adequately protecting society from harms associated with alcohol sales. The strategies employed by alcohol law enforcement are quite advanced in their approach to the broad impact of alcohol in our society. This paper explores some of the diverse agencies who enforce these laws and surveys some of the promising prevention and law enforcement strategies being researched in this area.