Are traffic deaths in Ireland related to alcohol consumption? Restudying a time series model

The traffic death rate and per capita alcohol consumption in Ireland were found by Walsh to be correlated. However, a more detailed analysis shows that changes in traffic deaths precede changes in alcohol consumption. Therefore, the correlation can not reflect a causal relation. When a speculative variable is included, the relation becomes concurrent. The overall conclusion is that there is no credible evidence for a relation between per capita alcohol consumption and traffic deaths.