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Thesis (M.Sc. Chemistry)--University of Waikato, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

The adverse health and safety consequences of excessive alcohol consumption are a leading problem around the world. Alcoholic beverages are a routine part of socializing in many societies. However, alcohol is also a significant contributor to worldwide morbidity, disability, and mortality. To lessen the harm produced by alcohol, governments have adopted different alcohol control policies. These control policies can be group into four basic strategies: deterrence, prevention, communications and outreach, and alcohol treatment. Among the prevention measures, restricting physical access to alcohol by limiting the alcohol outlets' density, raising the legal age to purchase alcohol, and reducing the affordability of alcohol through taxation have been extensively shown as cost-effective and feasible measures against alcohol-related harms. However, there are still topics related to the affordability of alcohol that have not been investigated. The role of promotional price practices at on-premises alcohol outlets on health and social outcomes, and the effects of policies enacted to prevent these practices on motor vehicle crashes remained an unexplored research topic. The main goals of this dissertation were to summarize evidence regarding the health effects of drink specials and to estimate the effects of policies restricting drink special practices as preventive tools for fatal motor vehicle crashes. Specifically, I summarized the research evidence of the effects of drink special practices on health and social outcomes (Aim 1). I examined the association between drink special laws and alcohol-related fatal motor vehicle crashes contrasting results for two methodological approaches, difference-in-difference-in-differences (Aim 2) and synthetic controls (Aim 3). This dissertation contains five chapters. The introduction in chapter one provides a background review of relevant literature that serves as the conceptual framework for this dissertation and an overview of chapters two, three, four, and five. The systematic review of the literature relevant to Aim 1 is presented in chapter two. This review included studies on the effects that drink specials and drink special laws have on alcohol consumption, binge drinking, and alcohol-related harms. Twelve studies examined the effect of drink specials in seven countries between 1978 and 2018. Consistent evidence supported associations between drink specials and increased alcohol consumption, heavy drinking, alcohol intoxication, and other alcohol-related outcomes. For aims 2 and 3, I examined 36-years of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Census Bureau, and NIH’s Alcohol Policy Information System and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism from 1982 to 2017. In chapter three, I presented results from difference-in-difference-in-differences analyses of the effects of implementing six drink special laws on alcohol- and non-alcohol-related motor vehicle fatal crash rates in the United States (U.S.). I assessed exposure to implementation as any law, number of laws, and each law. Random effects generalized least squares regression models adjusted for the proportion of males in the state, youth involved in fatal crashes, gallons of ethanol per capita among the population age 21 years and older, and autonomy index were fitted across 24 treated and 18 non-treated states. Results revealed that the implementation of any drink special law was associated with reductions in overall and alcohol-related fatal crash rates compared to untreated states. Also, drink special laws mitigated incremental rates of non-alcohol related crashes among treated states with any drink special law compared to untreated states. In chapter four, I presented results from synthetic control analyses for single and multiple treated units. I assessed the association between drink special laws and alcohol-related fatal motor vehicle crashes and adjusted for the same covariates as in chapter three. Results in chapter four indicated that states treated with any drink special law reduced alcohol-related fatal crash rates only in years three, five, and ten post-implementation compared to the synthetic control trend. The effects of any drink special law were more consistent at different times in the post-implementation for reducing non-alcohol-related fatal crash rates than the synthetic control trend. Findings for the number of laws implemented and each drink special laws were mixed. Chapter five presents a synthesis and discussion of findings in chapters two, three, and four, as well as policy recommendations for stakeholders and future research.

Two of the leading causes of automobile accidents are driver impairment due to alcohol and drowsiness. Apparently, a relatively large percentage of these accidents occur because drivers are unaware of the degree to which they are impaired due to these sources. The purpose of this research was to develop models which could detect driver impairment due to alcohol, drowsiness, or the combination of alcohol and drowsiness, and which could be practically implemented in an automobile. Such detection models, if successfully implemented in conjunction with a system to warn an impaired driver of his or her condition, could potentially save hundreds of lives each year. Six driver-subjects operated a computer controlled driving simulator during each of four conditions. The four conditions consisted of a control condition, an alcohol condition, a sleep-deprived condition, and a combination alcohol and sleep-deprived condition. Moderate levels of alcohol and sleep deprivation were used for this study. Nineteen performance and behavioral measures were collected during this study. Each measure was evaluated singly and in combination with other measures to determine potential value for detection of driver impairment. Detection models were then formulated using the most promising detection measures. The results indicated that a useful on-board drowsiness impairment detection device is possible and practical for highway driving. This device would also, in all likelihood, provide useful detection information regardless of whether low to moderate amounts of alcohol were present in a drowsy driver. The results also showed that on-board alcohol impairment detection may be possible at moderate to high BAC. / Master of Science

The Alcohol Safety Action Program was introduced in the early 1970s as a comprehensive systems approach for reducing alcohol-related automobile crashes. This dissertation gathers evidence and insights helpful to planners, evaluators, policy-makers, and program implementors. Specifically, A.S.A.P. “Level II” effectiveness in reducing the recidivism rate among program participants was examined. A combination of quantitative and qualitative assessments of the program was performed to gain in-depth insight and to determine which program elements seem associated with its success or failure. Quantitative analysis emphasized A.S.A.P. and non-A.S.A.P. participant two-year recidivism rates. Participants from two Virginia localities in 1977-80 were examined. Independent variables commonly held by both types of participants are age, sex, court delay, and prior offense records. Variables unique to each program were also examined. Qualitative insights were gathered through interviews with current A.S.A.P. participants prior to and following program completion, past program participants, and course instructors. An approximate three-to-one difference in recidivism rate was found between A.S.A.P. and non-A.S.A.P. participants. Variables significantly related to recidivism were prior D.W.I. offenses, court delay, prior reckless driving offenses, and age. Differences based on location were also found. The interviews demonstrate basic satisfaction with the course. Participants cited the overall arrest experience as having the largest impact, with the course providing supportive information. The factor emerging to deter future behavior was the negative experience--the “hassle”--associated with the D.W.I. offense. Overall, it appears that the blend of the educational and punitive approaches makes the A.S.A.P. program more effective than the alternative approaches being used. Specific recommendations emerging from the research are of four general types: administrative mechanisms, laws and policies, the A.S.A.P. course, and evaluation. / Ph. D.

Four field experiments were conducted to examine situational determinants of alcohol consumption at university fraternity parties. Certain manipulated variables were relevant to the development of environmental strategies for predicting and decreasing excessive alcohol consumption and deterring alcohol impaired driving. When entering university-sanctioned parties, students were asked a few questions and then they received a drink container and a stick-on badge, each with an ID number. During these parties, individual drinking rates of beer and mixed drinks or beer only were monitored under varying environmental conditions. When exiting the party, students' blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) were obtained with a breathalizer. In Experiment 1, three types of beer (Budweiser, Bud Light, and LA) were available in kegs labeled "A", "B", and "C". At a second party the kegs were labeled according to beer content (i.e., Budweiser, Bud Light, and LA). Results showed significant differences in drink choice across parties, with Budweiser most preferred by males and females when kegs did not indicate beer content and Bud Light most preferred by males and females when the kegs were labeled according to brand. The low alcohol (LA) choice was only selected substantially when the kegs did not reflect beer content. In Experiment 2, students of legal—drinking age at each of two weekend fraternity parties chose one of two types of alcoholic beverages (beer or mixed drinks) to consume throughout the night. Unbeknownst to the partiers, at the first of these two parties the beer drinkers were served regular beer, whereas at the second party low alcohol beer was served. Drinking rates were similar for beer and mixed-drink consumption at both parties; at the party with LA beer, students‘ mean BAC when leaving the party was significantly lower for the beer drinkers (i.e., .026 for LA consumers vs. .063 for mixed-drink consumers) For Experiment 3, students of legal drinking age at a weekend fraternity party chose one of two types of alcoholic beverages (beer or mixed drinks) to drink throughout the night. Unbeknownst to the partiers, drinkers were randomly assigned to either a regular alcohol content or low alcohol content version of their preferred beverage type. The drinking rates were greater for beer drinkers than for partiers consuming mixed drinks. Drinking rates were similar for both the low and regular alcohol alternatives. However, exit BAC was significantly greater for those in the regular-alcohol conditions. In Experiment 4, the alcoholic beverages available to students of legal—drinking age at one party (i.e., mixed drinks and beer) were served either by bartenders or served by themselves. A test of the theory of reasoned action was conducted by attempting to predict the number of drinks consumed and exit BAC from measures of general and specific intentions obtained two weeks before the party and at the start of the party. Specific drinking intentions obtained at the start of the party predicted a significant amount of variance in exit BAC (R = .59). The manipulation of situational variables also accounted for a portion of the variance in the number of drinks consumed and exit BAC. One environmental determinant at this party was the nature of drink delivery (i.e., self-serve vs. bartender). Male and female beer drinkers assigned to the Self-Serve condition drank at a higher rate and consumed more of their preferred beverage type than did those drinkers served by a bartender, or by those consuming mixed drinks in the self-serve condition. This increase was highest for male partiers. Male and female mixed drink consumers assigned to the Self·Serve condition drank at the lowest rate and consumed the least amount of their preferred beverage type. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the Denton County Safety Education Program. Subjects were 117 driving-while-intoxicated offenders who completed this alcohol reeducation program between June 1975 to June 1976. Questionnaires were used as evaluative measures. Data were analyzed in three steps: 1) two two-way ANOVAs with one repeated measure; 2) two Pearson product moment correlations; and 3) a Fisher's Z test. Conclusions of the investigation were that (1) both problem and non-problem drinkers benefited from the program; (2) change of attitude was an important factor in reducing recidivism; and (3) the program was successful in meeting its goals as a means of influencing drinking and driving behavior.

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Drinking and driving has always been a problem amongst university students. As Rocha-Silva (1981:1) states, drinking and driving accidents are one of the biggest problems that many universities internationally and locally have to deal with. The high level of drinking and driving among students in South African universities has prompted many universities to implement strategies to address the problem, such as the "Buddy Bus" campaign. The Department of Transport (DoT) has also implemented strategies such as the Arrive Alive campaign and Asiphephe to try and reduce the problem of drinking and driving in the country at large. However, studies on drinking and driving behaviour according to Nuntsu (2004) still point to an increase in the number of young people who engage in drinking and driving despite the number of diversified initiatives that have been implemented by educational institutions, communities and by various government bodies to counteract it. This has prompted this study in identifying the implementation approaches used by certain universities in South Africa in addressing drinking and driving among university students and the marketing strategies used to promote the drinking and driving policies. These universities included; the University of Johannesburg, Witwatersrand University and the University of Pretoria (Gauteng Province), University of KwaZulu-Natal campuses (Howard College, Westville campus and Pietermaritzburg campus), and the University of Zululand (KwaZulu-Natal province), the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and the University of Western Cape (Western Cape province). The method used for this study was qualitative method and the data was collected using face to face in-depth interviews. Both purposive and quota sampling was used to select the sample for the study. The findings showed that all the institutions under investigation had anti-drinking and driving programmes and campaigns such as "Buddy Bus" campaign and utilised music concerts with young famous musicians promoting anti-drinking and driving messages to students. However, they did not have formal, codified drinking and driving policies. Both the "top-down and the "bottom-up" approaches to policy implementation were identified in the institutions investigated. The "top-down" approach is implemented by the people at the top level, for example, in universities the management set the rules and the students have to abide by them. The "bottom-down" approaches are managed by students. The students decide on how the policies should be implemented. This approach is more flexible as it allows negotiation between students and management. The "bottom-up" approach appeared to be more "popular" than the "top-down" approach as it was adopted by seventy percent of the institutions. These institutions saw the "bottom-up" approach as appropriate in implementing the drinking and driving programmes as it allowed the student organisations (street-level bureaucrats) to have input on the policy implementation process. Indeed it also allows for negotiation and consensus building. The sociological theories, e.g. social learning theory, used in the study to explain students drinking were also evident in the findings with some universities adopting some of their suggested preventative measures which include the emphasis on negative social consequences of alcohol use and employment of popular peer role models to discourage alcohol use. However, the availability theory appeared to be more relevant in addressing drinking and driving behaviour, because for students to stop drinking and driving, alcohol should not be available to them - the premise of the theory. It was also evident from the findings that although there are programmes/strategies being implemented by the universities and DoT to address students drinking and driving, this deviant behaviour is still rife amongst the students. There is a need for more interventions from the universities, communities and DoT, all working together in developing and implementing drinking and driving strategies. There is also a need for theory-driven research on this "deviant behaviour", especially studies that use sociological theories to explain this "deviant behaviour" and the factors contributing to it. This will assist in providing important information and an understanding of why students engage in drinking and driving and also help to explain this deviant behaviour using sociological theories. The results of this theory-driven research will aid in highlighting important issues that need to be taken into consideration when designing drinking and driving programmes/policies at universities. The findings show that there is a need for approaches that will equip young people with life skills such as decision-making and peer pressure resistance skills which will allow them to resist the temptation of drinking and driving. Future investigations should thus focus on an evaluation of the drinking and driving strategies and the approaches used to implement them so that new and improved strategies can be developed. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, [2008]