A review of recent United States and Australian literature examines the relationship between alcohol control policies and traffic accidents and the potential of law to influence drinking and driving behaviors in ways other than through traditional law enforcement. It is noted that legal sanctions, while focused on traditional legal punishments, may also manipulate nonlegal sanctions by increasing the inconvenience of offending. They also may be mainly environmental in their focus, being designed to limit opportunities for offending through the introduction of physical impediments or through alterations in social practices. In general, evidence on control policies indicates that strategies aimed at making alcohol less easily available may substantially reduce the incident of alcohol-related accidents by reducing opportunity. There is also evidence that policies that increase the real cost of alcohol may be effective deterrents. Given the importance of social factors such as group pressure to drink, direct manipulation of the social environment in which drinking takes place is a logical policy objective. The potential of server intervention programs and the role of lifestyle advertising deserve additional research. 37 references.