title: Associations between alcohol outlets and emergency department injury presentations: effects of distance from the central business district.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of licensed outlets and sales on levels of alcohol-related injuries presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in the Inner, Middle and Outer postcode zones of Perth, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using panel data (2002-2010), a surrogate measure (based on day of week and time of day of presentation) was used to identify alcohol-related injuries presenting at EDs. Postcodes were grouped according to their distance from the central business district (CBD). Numbers of alcohol outlets and their sales were the primary explanatory variables. Data were analysed using negative binomial regression with random effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the Inner and Outer postcode zones, counts of on-site outlets were positively associated with alcohol-related injury (IRR: 1.008; 95%CI 1.003-1.013 and IRR: 1.021; 95%CI 1.013-1.030 respectively). An additional off-site outlet was associated with 6.8% fewer alcohol-related injuries (95%CI 0.887-0.980). In the Middle postcode zone, mean off-site sales were positively associated with injury (IRR: 1.024; 95%CI 1.003-1.044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Associations between alcohol availability variables and injury differed by outlet type and distance from the CBD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide further evidence to support stronger controls on liquor licensing, and indicate the need for different controls according to the location and type of licence.
authors.affiliation: National Drug Research Institute, Health Research Campus, Curtin University, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hobday
authors.affiliation: Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meuleners
authors.affiliation: National Drug Research Institute, Health Research Campus, Curtin University, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: National Drug Research Institute, Health Research Campus, Curtin University, Western Australia.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.affiliation: National Drug Research Institute, Health Research Campus, Curtin University, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chikritzhs
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alcohol availability; alcohol outlet density; alcohol sales; injury