Study: Smoking Bans Increase Drunk Driving

By Alison Gonzalez

Published on April 11, 2008

The study, published in the Journal of Public Economics, suggested an increase in the number of alcohol-related accidents in cities with established smoking bans.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin compared data from highway accidents involving individuals with a blood alcohol level above .08 in cities throughout the nation with smoking bans to those outside of ban areas between 2001 and 2005. Wisconsin cities were not included in the study.

At first, they were looking for a reduction in drunken driving accidents. But what they found was the exact opposite.

They found an increase in accidents after smoking bans were established in both ban areas and near their boundary lines. Results were similar across the nation.

Researchers attributed the increase to the distance people must drive to reach a bar in a city where smoking is allowed.

However, Maureen Busalacchi of Smoke Free Wisconsin said an increase in accidents cannot be directly linked to smoking bans, adding that people may travel to drink for a variety of reasons.

You wouldn’t know why they are traveling unless you interview them, she said.

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