Drive-up liquor windows and convicted drunk drivers: a comparative analysis of place of purchase

This study examined alcohol purchase locations of convicted drunk drivers to determine the characteristics and arrest circumstances of offenders who bought alcohol at a drive-up liquor window compared with those who obtained alcohol elsewhere. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between purchase location and the characteristics of 2,544 drunk drivers convicted in Santa Fe, NM, from 1986 to 1995. Analyses were performed to determine whether the place of purchase was related to arrest circumstances. The results revealed that drive-up windows were the preferred place of purchase of package liquor by offenders who bought the alcohol that they drank prior to arrest. The odds of being Hispanic (p < 0.0001), a high-risk problem drinker (p < 0.01), and drinking in the vehicle prior to arrest (p < 0.01) were significantly higher for drive-up window users than for offenders who purchased package liquor elsewhere. Based on these analyses, this study concludes that a statistically significant relationship exists between the use of drive-up windows and certain high-risk drinking behaviors. This increased use among vulnerable populations suggests that drive-up windows may facilitate alcohol misuse in these populations and thereby contribute to drunk driving.