Scholar Maria Micaela Sviatschi Delivers Seminar on Alcohol Sales and Road Deaths

The Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit was pleased to welcome Maria Micaela Sviatschi to the Bloomberg School of Public Health on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Ms. Sviatschi, of the Inter-American Development Bank and the University of San Andres, Argentina, met with several members of the Unit throughout her visit.

Ms. Sviatschi also delivered a thought-provoking seminar which focused on the results of her research paper, “Dry Law for Drunk Drivers: The Impact of Alcohol-Related Laws on Car Accident Mortality Rates.” The paper studies the effects of laws that prohibit the sale of alcohol at night (i.e., dry laws), and if these laws impact deaths from car accidents. The results suggest that a particular such “dry law” was associated with a reduction of 14 percent in car accident fatalities.

The International Injury Research Unit looks forward to continued collaboration and discussion with Ms. Sviatschi as she continues her research.