Download this article now for $15.00.

Sign in to gain access and download this article.

DUI Pre-Arrest Alcohol Purchases: A Survey of Sonoma County Drunk Drivers

Russell A. Fontaine

Based on a sample of 1,052 drunk drivers in northern California, less than 1% (0.80%) of those arrested for DUI had purchased and consumed alcohol prior to arrest from a convenience/gas store (gasmart). Data from both on-sale (on-premises consumption) and off-sale (off-premises consumption) alcohol outlets were compared. When off-sale outlets were compared only 2% of the DUI offenders had purchased and consumed alcohol from gasmarts prior to the arrest event. Gasmarts were the least frequent source of DUI-offender alcohol purchases. This report also describes the distribution of alcohol outlets for Sonoma and San Diego counties with respect to type of license and activity. Convenience stores that sold gas and alcohol concurrently were not overrepresented in either county. (J. Stud. Alcohol 53: 345-348, 1992)