Relationships between state-level general population alcohol policies and birth outcomes: Results from 1972-2019 vital statistics.
<h4>Background</h4>Research has found that policies that single out pregnant people's alcohol consumption are mostly ineffective. Identifying alternative approaches - for example, general population alcohol policies - that can reduce adverse effects of pregnant people's alcohol...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327559 |
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| author | Meenakshi S Subbaraman Nancy F Berglas William C Kerr Sarah C M Roberts |
| author_facet | Meenakshi S Subbaraman Nancy F Berglas William C Kerr Sarah C M Roberts |
| author_sort | Meenakshi S Subbaraman |
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| description | <h4>Background</h4>Research has found that policies that single out pregnant people's alcohol consumption are mostly ineffective. Identifying alternative approaches - for example, general population alcohol policies - that can reduce adverse effects of pregnant people's alcohol consumption is essential. Here, we examine how U.S. state-level alcohol policies regarding grocery store and gas station sales, Sunday sales, Blood Alcohol Concentration limits for driving, and government monopolies relate to birth outcomes.<h4>Methods</h4>Outcome data came from the 1972-2019 U.S. Vital Statistics System birth certificates (N = 160,538,939 live singleton births). Primary outcomes were low birthweight (<2,500 grams) and preterm birth (<37 weeks). Fully adjusted models included state and year fixed effects, state-specific time trends, and maternal- and state-level covariates with standard errors clustered by state.<h4>Results</h4>The only significant, robust associations between policies and outcomes were for government monopolies. In fully adjusted models, having a government monopoly on spirits or on both spirits and wine retail sales (vs. none) were each related to lower odds of low birthweight births (aOR=0.94, 95% CI: 0.93, 0.95; aOR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.92, 0.98 respectively). Having a government monopoly on spirits sales was also significantly related to lower odds of preterm births (aOR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.95, 1.00).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Government monopolies on spirits and wine relate to better birth outcomes. Findings underscore the importance of maintaining state government monopolies on spirits and wine as a strategy for protecting against adverse effects of pregnant people's drinking. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-641ba27dc22d4e5a97b711019966a99f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
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| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-641ba27dc22d4e5a97b711019966a99f2025-08-20T03:41:14ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01208e032755910.1371/journal.pone.0327559Relationships between state-level general population alcohol policies and birth outcomes: Results from 1972-2019 vital statistics.Meenakshi S SubbaramanNancy F BerglasWilliam C KerrSarah C M Roberts<h4>Background</h4>Research has found that policies that single out pregnant people's alcohol consumption are mostly ineffective. Identifying alternative approaches - for example, general population alcohol policies - that can reduce adverse effects of pregnant people's alcohol consumption is essential. Here, we examine how U.S. state-level alcohol policies regarding grocery store and gas station sales, Sunday sales, Blood Alcohol Concentration limits for driving, and government monopolies relate to birth outcomes.<h4>Methods</h4>Outcome data came from the 1972-2019 U.S. Vital Statistics System birth certificates (N = 160,538,939 live singleton births). Primary outcomes were low birthweight (<2,500 grams) and preterm birth (<37 weeks). Fully adjusted models included state and year fixed effects, state-specific time trends, and maternal- and state-level covariates with standard errors clustered by state.<h4>Results</h4>The only significant, robust associations between policies and outcomes were for government monopolies. In fully adjusted models, having a government monopoly on spirits or on both spirits and wine retail sales (vs. none) were each related to lower odds of low birthweight births (aOR=0.94, 95% CI: 0.93, 0.95; aOR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.92, 0.98 respectively). Having a government monopoly on spirits sales was also significantly related to lower odds of preterm births (aOR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.95, 1.00).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Government monopolies on spirits and wine relate to better birth outcomes. Findings underscore the importance of maintaining state government monopolies on spirits and wine as a strategy for protecting against adverse effects of pregnant people's drinking.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327559 |
| spellingShingle | Meenakshi S Subbaraman Nancy F Berglas William C Kerr Sarah C M Roberts Relationships between state-level general population alcohol policies and birth outcomes: Results from 1972-2019 vital statistics. PLoS ONE |
| title | Relationships between state-level general population alcohol policies and birth outcomes: Results from 1972-2019 vital statistics. |
| title_full | Relationships between state-level general population alcohol policies and birth outcomes: Results from 1972-2019 vital statistics. |
| title_fullStr | Relationships between state-level general population alcohol policies and birth outcomes: Results from 1972-2019 vital statistics. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relationships between state-level general population alcohol policies and birth outcomes: Results from 1972-2019 vital statistics. |
| title_short | Relationships between state-level general population alcohol policies and birth outcomes: Results from 1972-2019 vital statistics. |
| title_sort | relationships between state level general population alcohol policies and birth outcomes results from 1972 2019 vital statistics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327559 |
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