| This paper explores the causal connection of alcohol on homicide in context with other
cstablishcd theories on homicide causation, including routine activities theory, social bonds theory, and economic deprivation theory. This analysis is a replication and extension of Robert Nash Parker's book "Alcohol and Homicide, (1995). In this paper, the connection between alcohol and hornicide is examined at the state ' level, and a pooled cross-sectional model is used to conduct a time saxies regression analysis, Alcohol consumption is measured by sales of alcohol, and alcohol is examined in four ways: total alcohol sales, beer sales, liquor sales, and wine sales. This allows for exploration of each type of alcohol, as well as an aggregate measure of alcohol, and the potential connection of each measure to homicide. Interaction effects of alcohol with other variables that affect homicide are also explored. Tnitial resultst indicate that beer and liquor consumption are the aspects of alcohol that are causally connected to homicide, wine does tiot appear to affect homicide rates. Two major implications follow ftom these findings. By fidling to include an alcohol measure, previous homicide research has omitted a key explanatory variable. Measures of alcohol therefore are central to future homicide research.
|
Updated 05/20/2006