Do drinking-age laws have an impact on crime? Evidence from Canada, 2009-2013
Authors: Russell C. Callaghan, Jodi M. Gatley, Marcos Sanches, and Claire Benny
Overview
Abstract (English)
Background International debate is ongoing about the effectiveness of minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws. In Canada, the MLDA is 18 years of age in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec, and 19 in the rest of the country. Surprisingly few prior studies have examined the potential impacts of MLDA legislation on crime, and the current study addresses this gap. Methods Regression-discontinuity analyses of police-reported criminal incidents from the 2009-2013 Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey, Canada’s crime database. Results Nationally, in comparison to males slightly younger than the MLDA, those just older than the MLDA had sharp increases in: all crimes, (7.6%; 95% CI = 3.7%-11%, P < 0.001); violent crimes, (7.4%; 95% CI = 0.2%-14.6%, P = 0.043); property crimes, (4.8%; 95% CI = 0.02%-9.5%, P = 0.049); and disorderly conduct, (29.4%; 95% CI = 15.6%-43.3%, P < 0.001). Among females, national criminal incidents increased sharply following the MLDA in: all crimes, (10.4%; 95% CI = 3.8%-17.0%, P = 0.002), violent crimes, (14.9%; 95% CI = 6.4-23.2, P = 0.001); and disorderly conduct, (35.3%; 95% CI = 11.6-58.9, P = 0.004). Among both males and females, there was no evidence of significant changes in cannabis- or narcotics-related crimes (quasi-control outcomes) vis-à-vis the MLDA (P > 0.05). Conclusion Release from drinking-age laws appears to be associated with immediate increases in population-level violent and nonviolent crimes among young people in Canada.
Abstract (French)
Please note that abstracts only appear in the language of the publication and might not have a translation.
Details
Type | Journal article |
---|---|
Author | Russell C. Callaghan, Jodi M. Gatley, Marcos Sanches, and Claire Benny |
Publication Year | 2016 |
Title | Do drinking-age laws have an impact on crime? Evidence from Canada, 2009-2013 |
Volume | 167 |
Journal Name | Drug and Alcohol Dependence |
Number | 1 |
Pages | 67-74 |
Publication Language | English |
- Russell C. Callaghan
- Russell C. Callaghan, Jodi M. Gatley, Marcos Sanches, and Claire Benny
- Do drinking-age laws have an impact on crime? Evidence from Canada, 2009-2013
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence
- 167
- 2016
- 1
- 67-74