Researchers: Easier access to booze has a downside

LEHIGH VALLEY MORNING CALL:   “I think in the research world, you never have 100 percent consensus,” said Traci Toomey, a professor with the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health who sits on the board of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “But among those of us who do alcohol policy research and alcohol research in general, there is a strong agreement that as we increase availability of alcohol, we see a corresponding increase of a wide range of problems.”…

Availability really does matter quite a lot in terms of drinking, problem drinking and alcohol-related harms and other problems,” said William Kerr, senior scientist with the Public Health Institute’s Alcohol Research Group. “You would definitely see problems in Pennsylvania if you move that way.” 

That consensus is one of the reasons why in 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-affiliated Community Preventive Services Task Force recommended reducing or limiting the growth of bars and alcohol retailers as a way to “reduce the harms associated with excessive alcohol consumption.” …  (more)

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1 Comment

  1. uh duh/!!!!!!!!

    Anyone who can’t manage to buy enough booze on Saturday to get through to Monday has a severe drinking problem IMO.

    And that’s just the sort of people I want to share the roads with.

    Personally I’d rather raise tax money through legalized prostitution than expanded alcohol consumption. There’s much less chance that I’ll be collateral damage that way!

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