Citation

Casswell S. Aust. N. Zeal. J. Public Health 1986; 10(3): 317-322.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Public Health Association of Australia, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1753-6405.1986.tb00114.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The contribution alcohol makes to traffic crashes is the focus of considerable public and political concern. Popular responses concentrate on the individual drinker and driver: the preferred solution of the alcohol industry is an exclusive focus on information based education; however, there is public support for enforcement of breath analysis legislation. Such enforcement has had positive effects on fatal accident rates in both Australia and New Zealand.Current emphasis on individual-based strategies excludes broader structural changes, such as taxation changes, which affect ease of access to alcohol for the population as a whole. Controls over access to alcohol have some empirical support as methods to prevent alcohol-related problems, including alcohol-related traffic crashes.The individual focus is open to criticism on the grounds of being both relatively less cost effective and of victim-blaming. Structural changes should be considered as complementary to effective individual focus strategies such as well publicised enforcement of breath analysis.

Language: en