It Is More Than Just Alcohol: A Criminological Perspective on Routine Drinking Activities, Opportunity, and Alcohol-Related Crashes

Abstract

This project expands on the “routine drinking activities” perspective by examining alcohol outlets, alcohol-related crashes, and theoretically derived contextual measures. Using census tract–level data from two U.S. cities, we draw on the prevention literature and routine activities theory to develop measures of alcohol availability and context. Spatially lagged regression models examined both direct and conditional relationships between alcohol outlets and alcohol-related crashes. Results indicate that the alcohol outlet and crash relationship was moderated by contextual factors (e.g., driving under the influence [DUI] enforcement and environmental hazards). Thus, alcohol availability may be just a part of a broader community system that affects the opportunity for alcohol-related crashes to occur.

Waiting for the Stop Sign to Turn Green: Contemporary Issues on Drug and Alcohol Impaired Driving Policy

“…Rather, it is because they don't need to drive everywhere because they have many other transportation methods available such as walking, public transportation, taxi's, etc. Correspondingly, impaired drivers often do not manifest the same mental intent that is associated with other crimes and have been referred to as potentially motivated offenders (Stringer et al, 2019). Instead, many DUI offenders often just want to get home, which makes them more willing to accept alternative methods of transportation.…”

“…Although the results may indicate that it takes some time to observe changes in crashes after legalization (Aydelotte et al, 2019), it may be the commercial sales themselves that create this relationship via increased availability/opportunity. Legalization of marijuana, in and of itself, may not lead to the substantial increases in marijuana use necessary to detect aggregate change in crashes because it does not lead to increases in marijuana availability and the opportunity for motivated offenders (see Cohen & Felson, 1979;Felson, 1987;Stringer et al, 2019). However, once commercial sales began, citizens that previously had no means of acquiring marijuana (through a previously illicit market) could now do so at the local dispensary.…”