The Effect of Outlet Density on Aggression and Violence

Britt,H; Carlin, B, Toomey, T, Wagenaar, A (2005) “Neighborhood level Spatial Analysis of the Relationship Between Alcohol Outlet Density and Criminal Violence”, Environmental and Ecological Statistics 12 (4), pp 411-426.
Misuse of alcohol is a significant public health problem, potentially resulting in unintentional injuries, motor vehicle crashes, drownings, and, perhaps of greatest concern, serious acts of violence, including assaults, rapes, suicides, and homicides. Although previous research establishes a link between alcohol consumption increased levels of violence, studies relating the density of alcohol outlets (e.g., restaurants, bars, liquor stores) and the likelihood of violent crime have been less common. In this paper we test for such a relationship at the small area level, using data from 79 neighborhoods in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. We adopt a fully Bayesian point of view using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) computational methods as available in the popular and freely available WinBUGS language. Our models control for important covariates (e.g., neighborhood racial heterogeneity, age heterogeneity) and also account for spatial association in unexplained variability using conditionally autoregressive (CAR) random effects. Our results indicate a significant positive relationship between alcohol outlet density and violent crime, while also permitting easy mapping of neighborhood-level predicted and residual values, the former useful for intervention in the most at-risk neighborhoods and the latter potentially useful in identifying covariates still missing from the fixed effects portion of the model.

Freisthler, B., Gruenewald, P. J., Treno, A. J., & Lee, J. (2003) “Evaluating alcohol access and the alcohol environment in neighborhood areas”, Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 27(3), 477–484
This paper examines neighborhood, outlet, and server characteristics related to successful purchases of alcohol by intoxicated patrons and underage drinkers at alcohol establishments. It is hypothesized that outlets in commercial areas near to other premises, with poor exterior maintenance, much advertising, and inexperienced youthful servers will be more likely to sell alcohol to intoxicated and underage patrons.
The findings suggest that underage and intoxicated patron sales differ by areas. Both forms of illegal sales of alcohol are more likely in highly populated areas of communities. The findings also suggest that server characteristics are strongly related to sales to intoxicated patrons, suggesting some leverage for responsible beverage service programs in these environments.

Ireland, S. & J. Thomenny. (1993) The Crime Cocktail: Licensed Premises, Alcohol and Street Offences. Drug and Alcohol Review 12(2): 143-150
There is widespread acknowledgment for a connection between alcohol consumption and crime, but the extent of the connection and its implications continue to promote debate. Previous research has concentrated on assessment of alcohol involvement of offenders following arrest. Not all incidents coming to the notice of police result in an arrest. Arrest-centred alcohol involvement research is limited as arrest is not the most common outcome of police attendance. This study utilized an incident survey card to allow operational police officers to record their assessment of alcohol involvement for all incidents, not just arrests. Police were given clear guidelines to assist in their assessment of alcohol involvement. The survey was conducted over a 4-week period in six metropolitan Sydney Police Patrols. Levels of alcohol involvement were very high, with 77% of street offence incidents (assault, offensive behaviour and offensive language) found to be alcohol-related. Also identified was the high proportion of offences occurring in or near licensed premises. Sixty per cent of all alcohol-related street offences were included in this category. Other offences which also received a high alcohol involvement assessment were malicious damage (58%), domestic violence (40%) and noise complaints (59%). Drink driving offences were, by definition, 100% alcohol-related.

Reid, R, Hughey J, Peterson, N (2003) “Generalizing the Alcohol Outlet-Assaultive violence Link: Evidence from a US Midwestern city”, Substance Use and misuse 38 (14)pp 1971-82.
This study assessed the geographic association between rates of assaultive violence and alcohol-outlet density in Kansas City, Missouri. Data were obtained for sociodemographic factors, alcohol-outlet density, and rates of assaultive violence across 89 inner-city census tracts in Kansas City, Missouri. Alcohol-outlet density contributed significantly to the explained variance of the regression model and was associated with higher rates of assaultive violence in this midwestern city.

Speer, P, Gorman, D; Labouvi, E, Ontkush, M. (1998) “Violent crime and Alcohol Availability: Relationships in an Urban Community”, Journal of Public Health Policy. 19(3), pp 303-18.
The relationship between violent crime, neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics, and alcohol outlet densities in Newark, New Jersey is reported, thus extending previous research of municipalities at more refined levels of analysis..

Zhu L, Gorman, D, Horel, S (2004) “Alcohol Outlet Density and Violence: A Geospatial Analysis” , Alcohol and Alcoholism 39 (4), pp 369-375
This paper examines the relationship between alcohol outlet density and violent crime; the findings show a clear association between alcohol outlet density and violence, and suggest that the issues of alcohol availability and access are fundamental to the prevention of alcohol-related problems within communities.