information on alcohol outlets, density, and community: from CTC and Derek Franklin

NEWSLETTER

JULY 2010

Why Do More Alcohol Outlets Lead to Greater Alcohol Problems?

It is very important for state and local communities to retain control over the number of alcohol outlets. It does make a difference. Every year there are more studies on this topic. In February, two Indiana
University professors reported on their analysis of crime and outlet density
in Cincinnati. They found that off-premise outlets were responsible for one
in four simple assaults and one in three aggravated assaults. In another
study of eight college communities, E. R. Weitzman and her team from the
Harvard School of Public Health found that density was correlated with heavy
drinking, frequent drinking, and drinking related problems, particularly
among women, underage students, and students who picked up drinking in
college.

But why? Cheap alcohol may be partly to blame. Here is a theory posed by researcher Paul Gruenewald, “As alcohol markets mature, the number of outlets increases to meet demand and eventually
the market becomes saturated. At this point new outlets can compete only if
they replace old outlets or find a way to increase demand.” Outlets use different
ways to increase demand. Stores will use temporary price reductions to bring
in customers. Bars use drink promotions or draw customers with live
entertainment. Some convenience stores stock cheap, high alcohol content
products that attract street drinkers. Small wine shops draw in wealthy
customers who buy fine wine. Some of these sales strategies lead to greater
social problems. This argues for a good balance of outlets in a neighborhood.

How many outlets are too many?

Good question! No one has come up with a precise formula. We just don’t know enough about the market and social dynamics. However, the public health balance is best struck by local
decision-makers, not large corporate interests that seek a “free market” for
alcohol in our communities. What local groups have done is to map crime
incidents and locations of licenses to identify problem areas. These are the
areas where caution is needed when considering new licenses. This is
particularly the case for the types of licenses that generate the most police
calls, i.e. places where alcohol constitutes the majority of sales.
Prevention advocates should also remember that alcohol policy must be
comprehensive and not rely on single measures. As the World Health
Organization recommends, policies need to address price, promotion practices,
availability, age restriction and impaired driving.

Here are some helpful resources for the issue of outlet density:

“Alcohol Outlet Density and Public Health,” Marin Institute, www.MarinInstitute.org.

“Fact Sheet: Alcohol Outlet Density,” Alcohol Issues Committee, Capitol Neighborhood, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin.

“More Alcohol Sales Sites Mean More Neighborhood Violence, New Research Finds,” Science Daily, February 22, 2010.

“How Alcohol Outlets Affect Neighborhood Violence,” Kathryn Steward, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation.

“The relationship of alcohol outlet density to heavy and frequent drink and drinking-related problems among college students at eight universities,” E.R. Weitzman, et al, Harvard School of
Public Health, Health and Place, www.elsevier.com.

“What are the most effective and cost-effective interventions in alcohol control?” World Health Organization, February 2004.

“Why do alcohol outlets matter anyway: A look into the future,” Paul Gruenewald, Prevention Resource Center, Berkeley CA, Editorial, Addiction, 2008.