Does state repeal of alcohol exclusion laws increase problem drinking?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Substance Abuse Research

Background:

• Alcohol exclusion laws (AELs) permit insurers to deny claims for alcohol-related injuries, including those from impaired driving.
• A core assumption is that AELs deter risky behaviors like excessive alcohol consumption.
• This study investigates if repealing AELs influences state-level drinking patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the causal effect of state-level alcohol exclusion law repeal on adult alcohol consumption and binge drinking.
• To determine if the removal of AELs leads to increased alcohol-related risk-taking behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (1993-2017).
• Employed a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences approach to analyze the impact of state AEL repeal.
• Conducted extensive sensitivity analyses to validate findings on drinking behaviors.

Main Results:

• No significant increase in current drinking or binge drinking was observed following the repeal of AELs.
• Small, statistically significant changes in odds for current drinking (aOR=0.98) and binge drinking (aOR=1.03) were found but deemed negligible after adjustments.
• Robustness checks and sensitivity analyses confirmed the absence of a meaningful impact on alcohol consumption.

Conclusions:

• The repeal of alcohol exclusion laws does not appear to increase alcohol consumption or binge drinking.
• Findings challenge the deterrence premise underlying AELs.
• Further research should explore other state-specific policy factors influencing alcohol-related behaviors.