Limitations notwithstanding, the findings from this quasi-experimental study provides stronger evidence of MLDA effects than analyses of single cross-sections would. Recent reports estimate the number of suicides and homicides for women born after 1960 in the United States to be about 3,600 and 2,700, respectively for 2007 (Crosby et al., 2011; Logan et al., 2011). Based on these numbers, and the effect size estimates in Table 3, we estimate that the 21 MLDA may be preventing more than 600 suicides and more than 600 homicides annually among individuals of all ages (i.e., those currently restricted from purchasing alcohol prior to age 21 as well as those who are now past the age of majority, but were restricted from purchase as minors). This interpretation must be tempered by considering the previously mentioned limitations.
