Effects of posted point-of-sale warnings on alcohol consumption during pregnancy and on birth outcomes.
In 23 states and Washington D.C., alcohol retailers are required by law to post alcohol warning signs (AWS) that warn against the risks of drinking during pregnancy. Using the variation in the adoption of these laws across states and within states over time, I find a statistically significant reduction in prenatal alcohol use associated with AWS. I then use this plausibly exogenous change in drinking behavior to establish a causal link between prenatal alcohol exposure and birth outcomes. I find that AWS laws are associated with decreases in the odds of very low birth weight and very pre-term birth.
Department of Economics, 1285 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, United States. Electronic address: gcil@uoregon.edu.
Gulcan
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Cil
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000639:trends; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
Alcohol; Birth weight; Infant health; Point-of-sale warnings; Pre-term birth