Alcohol and traffic in Finland.
This paper describes historical trends in drunken driving and traffic accidents in Finland since 1930 and discusses the relationship between alcohol policy, alcohol consumption, and drunken driving. It first describes the development of laws dealing with drunken driving and actual punishments for drunken driving. Secondly, it describes quantitative changes in drunken driving and traffic accidents, giving particular attention to alcohol-related traffic accidents. Thirdly, it analyses the connection between alcohol consumption and drunken driving. Finally, the relationship between alcohol policy and alcohol consumption in Finland is discussed. The role of the alcoholic beverages industry is also scrutinized. The paper shows that there are links among alcohol control policy, alcohol consumption, drinking habits, drunken driving, and alcohol-related traffic accidents. However, these ties are manifested through numerous mediating factors and alcohol is not the sole decisive factor. The paper also shows that drunken driving in Finland has increased and that alcohol-related traffic accidents are an important social problem.
Osterberg
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Social Research Institute of Alcohol Studies, Helsinki, Finland.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003416:Criminal Law; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D011640:Public Policy