Opposition material - City Clerk - City of Jonesboro

Dry Counties Have Higher DWI Fatality Rates
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Dry Counties Have Higher OWl Fatality Rates
Another study has found that alcohol prohibition (dry) counties have
higher rates of alcohol-related traffic fatalities than do wet counties.
A study of all counties in Arkansas has reported dry counties to have
higher alcohol-related fatalities than dry counties throughout the
state. Wet and dry counties are often adjacent, which means that
alcohol beverage sales outlets are often located immediately across
county or even state lines.
One newspaper reported that in the state's northwest corner
bordering Missouri "on a recent Friday evening, more than nine out
of very 10 cars rolling into liquor megastore Macadoodles had
Arkansas license plates. In one hour, 182 Arkansas plates were
counted. There were 16 Missouri plates during that time period."
Another newspaper reported that in central Arkansas "when an area
is dry, it means a drive across the county line, and sometimes
several county lines, to reach an oasis.... "
The finding that Arkansas' dry counties have a higher proportion of
alcohol-related traffic crashes is consistent with research elsewhere.
For example, a study of about 39,000 alcohol-related traffic
accidents in Kentucky found that residents of dry counties are more
likely to be involved in such crashes, possibly because they have to
drive farther from their homes to consume alcohol, thus increasing
impaired driving exposure (Schulte et al., 2003)'
Other researchers have pointed to the same phenomenon. Winn and
Giacopassi (1993) observed that residents of wet counties most
likely have "shorter distances [to travel] between home and drinking
establishments." From their study, Schulte and colleagues concluded
that in dry counties "individuals are driVing farther under the
influence of alcohol, thus increasing their exposure to crashes."
It would appear that however well-intentioned, county alcohol
prohibition does not prevent residents from consuming alcoholic
beverages, contributes to alcohol-related traffic deaths, and deprives
residents of tax revenues lost to wet counties.
http://www2.potsdam.edulhansondj/lnTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/20060517124659.ht... 3/17/2009