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- Title
The Minimum Legal Drinking Age and Crime Victimization.
- Authors
Chalfin, Aaron; Hansen, Benjamin; Ryley, Rachel
- Abstract
For nearly every crime, there is a victim. However, the vast majority of studies in the economics of crime have focused on the causal determinants of criminality. We present novel evidence on the causal determinants of victimization, focusing on legal access to alcohol. The social costs of alcohol use and abuse are sizable and well documented. We find criminal victimization—for both violent and property crimes—increases noticeably at age 21. Effects are not present at other birthdays and do not appear to be driven by a "birthday celebration effect." The effects are particularly large for sexual assaults, especially those that occur in nonresidential locations. Our results suggest prior research that has focused on criminality has understated the true social costs associated with increased access to alcohol.
- Subjects
CRIME victims; DRINKING age; OFFENSES against property; ALCOHOL drinking; ALCOHOLISM; VIOLENT crimes
- Publication
Journal of Human Resources, 2023, Vol 58, Issue 4, p1141
- ISSN
0022-166X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3368/jhr.59.2.0720-11070r2