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Alcohol, Violence, and Injury-Induced Mortality: Evidence from a Modern-Day Prohibition

Author

Listed:
  • Kai Barron

    (WZB Berlin)

  • Charles D. H. Parry

    (South African Medical Research Council and Stellenbosch University)

  • Debbie Bradshaw

    (South African Medical Research Council and University of Cape Town)

  • Rob Dorrington

    (University of Cape Town)

  • Pam Groenewald

    (South African Medical Research Council)

  • Ria Laubscher

    (South African Medical Research Council)

  • Richard Matzopoulos

    (South African Medical Research Council and University of Cape Town)

Abstract

This paper evaluates the impact of a sudden and unexpected nationwide alcohol sales ban in South Africa. We find that this policy causally reduced injury-induced mortality in the country by at least 14%. We argue that this estimate constitutes a lower bound on the true impact of alcohol on injury-induced mortality. We also document a sharp drop in violent crimes, indicating a tight link between alcohol and aggressive behavior in society. Our results underscore the severe harm that alcohol can cause and point toward a role for policy measures that target the heaviest drinkers in society.

Suggested Citation

  • Kai Barron & Charles D. H. Parry & Debbie Bradshaw & Rob Dorrington & Pam Groenewald & Ria Laubscher & Richard Matzopoulos, 2024. "Alcohol, Violence, and Injury-Induced Mortality: Evidence from a Modern-Day Prohibition," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 106(4), pages 938-955, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:restat:v:106:y:2024:i:4:p:938-955
    DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01228
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Andrés Ramasco, 2023. "Not a Sip: Effects of Zero Tolerance Laws on Road Traffic Fatalities," Working Papers 289, Red Nacional de Investigadores en Economía (RedNIE).
    2. Matthias Bäuml & Jan Marcus & Thomas Siedler, 2023. "Health effects of a ban on late‐night alcohol sales," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(1), pages 65-89, January.
    3. Ivandić, Ria & Kirchmaier, Tom & Saeidi, Yasaman & Torres Blas, Neus, 2024. "Football, alcohol, and domestic abuse," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    4. Vinayak Krishnatri & Sukumar Vellakkal, 2026. "Does Alcohol Prohibition Improve Caloric and Macronutrient Intake From Healthy Food Sources? Evidence From Bihar, India," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 57(1), January.
    5. Kai Barron & Charles D. H. Parry & Debbie Bradshaw & Rob Dorrington & Pam Groenewald & Ria Laubscher & Richard Matzopoulos, 2024. "Alcohol, Violence, and Injury-Induced Mortality: Evidence from a Modern-Day Prohibition," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 106(4), pages 938-955, July.
    6. Barron, Kai & Leutgeb, Johannes, 2022. "Alkohol und Gewalt: Ein natürliches Experiment in Südafrika," WZB-Mitteilungen: Quartalsheft für Sozialforschung, WZB Berlin Social Science Center, issue 175 (1/22, pages 61-63.
    7. Lee, Wang-Sheng & Johnston, David & Khalil, Umair & Ray, Arijit, 2025. "Corrigendum to “Religiosity and crime: Evidence from a city-wide shock” [Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Volume 232 (2025) 106934]," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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