Blue Laws, DUIs and Alcohol-Related Accidents: Regression Discontinuity Evidence from Colorado

Abstract

On July 1st, 2008, Colorado Blue Laws banning Sunday packaged liquor salewere repealed. We estimate the effect of this policy change on alcohol-related accidentsand traffic citations in a regression discontinuity design. Across specifications, we find noevidence that the repeal of Colorado Blue Laws increased or decreased alcohol-relatedaccidents and alcohol-related traffic citations. This stands in sharp contrast with previousstudies that found a 30% increase or more in alcohol-related accidents on Sundaysfollowing the repeal of similar laws in New Mexico ( I18, C22, R41)