D4 Published development or research report or study
The long-term effects of increased alcohol availability on mortality: Evidence from an alcohol reform
Authors: Henri Salokangas
Publisher: Aboa Centre for Economics
Publishing place: Turku
Publication year: 2016
Series title: Aboa Centre of Economics Discussion Papers
Number in series: 115
ISSN: 1796-3133
Web address : http://ace-economics.fi/kuvat/dp115.pdf(external)
I examine the long-term mortality effects of an exogenous
shock in alcohol availability using Census data, mortality data and data on
distance to alcohol outlets. In 1969, Finland underwent significant changes in
alcohol availability both via Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) and
distribution channels. The geographical alcohol availability increased
especially for the previously “dry” rural Finland. The main
results suggest that reducing MLDA from 21 to 18 had a positive effect on
alcohol-related deaths in the long term for the 18-19 year-olds that were
immediately affected by MLDA. I do not find evidence that the reduction
of physical alcohol availability in rural areas resulted into diminishing
difference of alcohol-related
death rates between urban and rural areas.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |  |
