Anshu Shrestha, MS¹, Mark Wolfson, PhD², Beth A. Reboussin, PhD², and Kristie F. Foley, PhD¹. (1) Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2000 West First Street, Piedmont Plaza II, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, 336-716-9280, ashresth@wfubmc.edu, (2) Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School Medicine, 2000 West First Street, Piedmont Plaza II, Winston-Salem, NC 27104

The goal of this study is to assess relationship between youth perception of certainty of getting caught by police and their involvement in drinking and driving behavior. In addition, it examines how youths' perception of severe consequences ensuing police apprehension affects their drinking and driving behavior.

The study used pooled data, collected over a three year period (1999, 2000, and 2001), from 4313 youth ages 16 to 20, who participated in annual Youth Survey. The data were collected as part of the National Evaluation of the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Program. The results showed a significant negative association between perceived certainty of getting caught for driving after drinking and youth drinking and driving behavior (OR = 0.367, 95%CI = 0.286, 0.471, p<0.0001), indicating that youth who were more certain of getting caught by police for driving after drinking were less likely to be involved in such behavior. Effects remained approximately similar (OR = 0.514, 95%CI = 0.385, 0.687, p<0.0001) when controlled for demographic variables (age, gender, race/ethnicity) and alcohol-related behaviors/attitudes (frequency of drinking, binge drinking, age of alcohol initiation, and perceived capability of driving after drinking 3 or more drinks). However, no associations were observed between drinking and driving behavior and perceived severity of consequences or perceived certainty of getting caught for drinking only.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this session, participants will have a solid understanding of the roles of different components of deterrence theory (i.e., certainty and severity) in preventing underage drinking and driving based on evidence from this study.

Keywords: DUI, Alcohol Problems

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.