title: Alcohol prevention targeting licensed premises: a study of effects on violence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This research studied the effects of a community alcohol prevention program on violent crimes. Starting in 1996, a 10-year multicomponent program based on community mobilization, training in responsible beverage service for servers and stricter enforcement of existing alcohol laws has been conducted in Stockholm, Sweden. The project has been led by an action group consisting of members from the hospitality industry and the authorities.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a time-series quasi-experimental design that included a control area. Data on police-reported violence during the period of January 1994 to September 2000 were analyzed through ARIMA modeling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the intervention period, violent crimes decreased significantly by 29% in the intervention area, controlled for the development in the control area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention seems to have been successful in reducing violent crimes. This effect is most likely due to a combination of various policy changes initiated by the project. The findings support the notion that community action projects working on a local basis can be effective in decreasing alcohol-related problems at licensed premises.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. eva.wallin@stad.org
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wallin
authors.forename: Thor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Norström
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andréasson
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008004:Licensure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012147:Restaurants / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012621:Seasons; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*