We did not examine the specific mechanism by which the tobacco policies affect drinking behavior. However, smoking cessation is negatively correlated with alcohol consumption or alcohol abuse/dependence (Cavazos-Rehg et al., 2014; Picone & Sloan, 2003). Given that smoking and alcohol consumption often occur together and that alcohol consumption triggers smoking among smokers (Epstein et al., 2007; King & Epstein, 2005; Sayette et al., 2005), for many drinkers, smoking might serve as a ‘trigger’ for drinking. Reducing or quitting smoking due to the stricter tobacco policies could, in turn, reduce alcohol consumption. Although decreasing alcohol consumption is a net public health benefit, reducing alcohol-related disease and injury rates (Wagenaar et al., 2010), decreased consumption among heavy drinkers would be most beneficial. The reductions in per-capita alcohol consumption in response to the tobacco policies likely occurred among heavy drinking smokers, as prior studies on individual drinking behaviors found the impact of tobacco policies on drinking to be pronounced among heavy or hazardous drinkers (Kasza et al., 2012; McKee et al., 2009; Young-Wolff et al., 2013).
