title: The relationship of alcohol outlet density to heavy and frequent drinking and drinking-related problems among college students at eight universities.
abstract: To determine whether alcohol outlet density was correlated with heavy and frequent drinking and drinking-related problems, we compared ecological measures of outlet density with survey measures of drinking using a geographic information system and the Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study (n=3,421, site n=8). We identified 966 outlets within 8 2-mile study areas. Densities/site ranged from 32 to 185. Density was correlated with heavy drinking (r=0.82, p=0.01), frequent drinking (r=0.73, p=0.04) and drinking-related problems (r=0.79, p=0.02). Women, underage students and students who picked up binge drinking in college were affected. Implications for prevention and research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health & Social Behavior, Harvard School of Public Health, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, P.O. Box Boston, MA 15678, 02215, USA. eweitzma@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Elissa R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Weitzman
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Folkman
authors.forename: M P H Kerry Lemieux
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Folkman
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wechsler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*