DO DRINKERS KNOW WHEN TO SAY WHEN - AN EMPIRICAL-ANALYSIS OF DRUNK DRIVING

This paper presents empirical evidence that an individual's decision t o drive while drunk is negatively affected by the expected full price of driving drunk. The analysis usa a unique data set containing inform ation on self-reported drunk driving matched to state-level drunk driv ing policies as well as to state excise taxes on beer. These are hypot hesized and found to affect drunk driving. Further, we find interestin g racial differences but surprisingly small differences by gender in t he effect of socioeconomic and policy variables on drunk driving prope nsities.