Another study focused on the relationship between alcohol prices and spouse abuse (i.e., both wife abuse and husband abuse) (Markowitz 2000). This analysis used data from the 1985 National Family Violence Survey as well as respondents from that survey who were interviewed again in 1986 and 1987. Hence, the study was based on a panel of three observations on each person. The statistical analysis also included individual-level fixed effects to control for unmeasured characteristics in the panel. One example of such characteristics is the person’s sentiment toward alcohol consumption, which may be correlated with his or her propensity to commit violence, with overall alcohol sentiment in his or her State of residence, and with the rate at which alcohol is taxed. The results consistently indicated that increases in the price per ounce of pure alcohol (as measured by a weighted average of the prices of alcohol from beer, wine, and liquor) reduce the probability of severe violence (kicking, biting, hitting with a fist or other object, choking, and using or threatening to use a gun or knife) aimed at wives.
