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Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on March 1, 2006
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2006 41(4):451-454; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agh258
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol. All rights reserved

MODERATE ALCOHOL INTAKE AND MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES: THE CONFLICT BETWEEN HEALTH ADVANTAGE AND AT-RISK USE

KENNETH HENG1,2, STEPHEN HARGARTEN1,3, PETER LAYDE1,4, ANDY CRAVEN1 and SHANKUAN ZHU1,4,*

1 Injury Research Centre, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA, 2 Emergency Department, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, 3 Department of Emergency Medicine and 4 Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Injury Research Centre and Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. Tel: +1 414 456 7674; Fax: +1 414 456 6470; E-mail: szhu{at}mcw.edu

(Received 12 October 2005; first review notified 24 November 2005; in revised form 29 November 2005; accepted 30 November 2005)

Aims: To review the evidence on moderate alcohol intake and motor vehicle crash (MVC) risk, and discuss the possible public health tension in balancing risk reduction and increment with respect to moderate alcohol intake. Method: A Medline review was conducted on moderate alcohol intake, MVC, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks. Result: Moderate alcohol intake (24 g ethanol, two US standard drinks, or less a day) is associated with 20% reduction in risk of CVD. Public awareness of this may contribute to why rates of driving with blood alcohol content (BAC) <0.08 g/dl in the United States are static. Studies show 3- to 17-fold increased risk of a fatal MVC with BAC < 0.08 g/dl compared to sober drivers. The United States has 0.08 g/dl BAC laws, higher than that reached by a driver drinking two drinks per day or less. Conclusion: The public should be educated that although moderate alcohol drinking may not violate BAC laws, it still carries significant risk of MVC. Current BAC laws in some countries needs re-evaluation.


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