Changing the density of alcohol outlets to reduce alcohol-related problems.
Increasingly, it seems, legal and political debates regarding the granting of new liquor licences are turning to the issue of whether the number and density of alcohol outlets makes a difference in rates of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm. But what is the state of the evidence on this question? In this Harm Reduction Digest Livingston, Chikritzhs and Room review the research literature on the effects of density of alcohol sales outlets on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems; suggest a new way of conceptualising the relationships; and discuss the implications for reducing alcohol-related harm.
Livingston
Michael
M
AER Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Melbourne, Australia. michaell@turningpoint.org.au
Chikritzhs
Tanya
T
Room
Robin
R
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control; D003132:Commerce; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006801:Humans; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data