Road deaths drop where wine share highest

Road deaths are lower in American states where the share of wine consumption is higher compared to beer and spirits.

According to a new study from the American Association of Wine Economists, data between 1982 and 2000 proves that states which sell a greater proportion of beers and spirits have a higher rate of traffic fatalities.

Commenting on the findings, the paper noted, “Our results suggest that arguments against legislation that proposes to introduce wine into grocery stores for reasons related to traffic fatalities may be misguided.”

Continuing, it pointed out, “Specifically, the conventional wisdom that alcoholic beverages with higher ethanol content are more dangerous in terms of traffic fatalities is not obvious in our simulation results.”

The study also shows that altering the time when alcohol is available appears to affect traffic death rates, and above all, that “youth fatalities are most closely tied to beer and spirit consumption, and are particularly sensitive to alcohol sale hours”.

The report was produced in response to proposals in the US to expand the distribution of wine, along with other alcoholic drinks.

As the paper reminds, 12 states ban the sale of alcohol in grocery stores, while six states allow only the retailing of beer in supermarkets. A further 15 states allow beer and wine, while 17 states permit the sale of beer, wine and spirits in grocery stories.

Finally, it is stressed that states with higher levels of total alcohol consumption have higher rates of road deaths.

Click here to read the paper from the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE).