This paper evaluates the impact of a sudden and unexpected nation-wide alcohol sales ban in South Africa. We find that this policy causally reduced injury-induced mortality in the country by at least 14%. We argue that this estimate constitutes a lower bound on the true impact of alcohol on injury-induced mortality. We also document a sharp drop in violent crimes, indicating a tight link between alcohol and aggressive behavior in society. Our results underscore the severe harm that alcohol can cause and point towards a role for policy measures that target the heaviest drinkers in society.

About the Presenter

Kai Barron is a postdoctoral research fellow at WZB Berlin Social Science Center and a member of the Berlin School of Economics (BSE). His primary research fields are behavioral and experimental economics. His work focuses predominantly on studying how individuals process information, thereby constructing narratives, and forming expectations to understand the world around them. He received his Ph.D. in economics from University College London (UCL), having previously completed his undergraduate studies at University of Cape Town (UCT). From February to July, 2023, he will spend 6 months as a Visiting Scholar at the Minda da Gunzburg center at Harvard.

Zoom Meeting Details
Meeting ID: 920 9332 4187
Passcode:854026

Light Lunch to be served at 12:30
Venue:4th Floor, Staff Lounge, School of Economics Building, Middle Campus,UCT.