Journal of Education & Social Policy

The Effects of Alcohol Use on Defiant Behavior among High School Students
Wesley A. Austin, Ph.D.

Abstract
Some controversy over the effects of alcohol use on societal outcomes (including educational achievement) has been noted in economics. While some issues have been addressed, important questions regarding human capital persist. This article explores whether drinking leads, in causal ways, to greater levels of unruly behaviors by high school students, and the possibility that any correlation between drinking and these behaviors might reflect unobservable factors? An instrumental variable model is estimated to investigate the impact of drinking on student actions such as gun carrying and fighting. Results indicate that alcohol use increases the incidence of these behaviors and effects remain stable across instrument specifications.

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