Local smoking bans shown to increase drunk driving

St. Paul, Minn. — There's a new national study set to appear in the Journal of Public Economics that shows what may seem like a surprising impact of smoking bans at bars and restaurants.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin found that local smoking bans tends to increase the number number of drunk driving accidents.

But, the study also suggests a state-wide smoking ban like Minnesota's might alleviate some of that effect.

MPR's Tom Crann spoke the study's author, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee economics assistant professor Scott Adams.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 04/04/2008, 5:50 p.m.