Reducing Alcohol-Related Traffic Accidents through Server Training

Abstract

Alcohol misuse is a serious problem plaguing the United States as well as Missouri. The largest problems stemming from alcohol misuse are impaired driving, underage drinking, and binge drinking. The Harvard School of Public Health lists “property damage, physical injuries, unwanted sexual advances, and encounters with police” as problems stemming from heavy episodic (binge) drinking. Underage drinking is linked to “youth crimes, suicides, rapes, assaults, alcohol poisoning and unintentional injuries” that costs society “$53 billion annually.” Alcohol is involved in 40% of all fatal traffic crashes. Mandatory server training is a program that can address all of these problems but its primary benefit is its potential to reduce motor vehicle accidents.