Alcohol and homicide: a comparison between Erie County, New York, and Los Angeles County, California

Blood alcohol levels (BALs) were determined for all homicide victims in Erie County, New York, between 1973 and August 1984. These data were compared with similar data for Los Angeles (L.A.) County, California. The overall percentage of victims with blood alcohol levels of 0.01 g% or more was lower in Erie County compared to L.A. County. However, when race and sex were examined as variables in this context, there were interesting differences between the two counties. For instance, there was a higher percentage of Black victims with positive BALS relative to negative BALs in L.A. County, but a higher percentage of White victims with positive BALs relative to negative BALs in Erie County. In Erie County there was a higher percentage of female victims with positive compared to negative BALS, whereas in L.A. County less than half the female victims had positive BALs.