ALCOHOL AVAILABILITY AND ALCOHOL-RELATED CRASHES - DOES DISTANCE MAKEA DIFFERENCE

Variations in alcohol control laws can cause problems if individuals t ravel to less restrictive jurisdictions to purchase alcohol to circumv ent more restrictive regulations. The establishment, of a national min imum drinking age of 21 is an example of an attempt to eliminate the p henomenon known as ''border drinking.'' However, it exists today in ma ny southern states that have dry counties. The present study analyzes Kentucky's 77 dry counties to determine if rates of six types of motor vehicle crashes are affected by distance to legal alcohol. The analys is indicates that the distance variable is significantly and negativel y related to rate of alcohol-related injury crashes but does not appea r to be a substantial determinant of accident rates in dry counties.