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Silver D, Bae JY, Macinko J. Protocol for creating a dataset of U.S. state alcohol-related firearm laws 2000-2022. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299248. [PMID: 38451933 PMCID: PMC10919691 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Firearms are a major source of preventable morbidity and mortality in the United States, contributing to over 48,000 deaths in 2022 and generating societal costs in excess of $500 billion. A body of work has examined the relationship between US state level firearm laws and health outcomes, generally finding that some firearm regulations are associated with lower firearm-related mortality. Alcohol has been identified as an additional risk factor for both homicides and suicide and stronger state alcohol laws have been associated with lower rates of suicide. To date, there are no empirical studies that have investigated the impact of laws over a long period of time that target the intersection of alcohol and firearm. One reason for this may be because there is no existing dataset that includes the range of these state laws over time. This study describes the protocol for collecting, coding and operationalizing these legal data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Silver
- New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jin Yung Bae
- New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - James Macinko
- UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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O'Hara SE, Paschall MJ, Grube JW, Ponicki WR. Did the association between alcohol outlet density and crime change during COVID shelter-in-place orders? Drug Alcohol Rev 2024; 43:454-464. [PMID: 38258462 PMCID: PMC10922690 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We investigated whether greater concentrations of on- and off-sale alcohol outlets were associated with crime and whether this association was moderated by COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders (SIP) that restricted on-premises consumption of alcohol. METHODS Crimes (2019-2020) and addresses of licenced alcohol outlets in a medium-sized California city were geocoded within census block groups (N = 61). On- and off-sale alcohol outlet density was calculated as licenced outlets/2.59 km2 (1 square mile). Multilevel negative binomial regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between alcohol outlet density and crime, and possible moderating effects of SIP, controlling for block group demographic characteristics and density of other retail businesses. RESULTS On-sale outlet density was positively associated with total crimes and Part 2 crimes, while off-sale outlet density was inversely associated with total crime and Part 2 crimes. Overall, SIP was not significantly associated with crime, but moderated the associations of on-sale density with total crime and Part 1 crimes such that reductions in crime during SIP were observed in higher density areas. The association of off-sale outlets with crime was not moderated by SIP policies. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION On-sale outlet density, but not off-sale density, appears to be associated with increased crime. The results further indicate that restrictions in hours and service imposed by SIP policies reduced crime in high on-sale outlet density areas. These findings reinforce the importance of regulating alcohol outlet density and hours of service, especially for on-sale outlets, as a crime reduction strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon E O'Hara
- Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, USA
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | | | - Joel W Grube
- Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, USA
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
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Odeigah OW, Patton R. Alcohol licensing legislation and licensing system in South-West Nigeria: Implications to regulate physical availability of alcohol. Drug Alcohol Rev 2024; 43:199-212. [PMID: 37881163 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The proliferation of alcohol outlets has led to increased physical availability of alcohol, harmful alcohol consumption and related harm in Nigeria. This study explored alcohol licensing legislations and licensing systems across local government councils (LGC) in South-West, Nigeria. METHODS Twenty-four LGCs across three states participated in the study. Data were generated from: (i) documents containing LGC liquor licensing legislations; and (ii) semi-structured interviews conducted with 50 LGC officials (16 legislative council clerks and 34 finance officers [director of finance, rate officers and revenue collectors]) were thematically analysed using NVivo. RESULTS Nine of the sampled LGC enacted liquor licence bylaws. These mostly specified categories of liquor licences issued and licensing fees. None of the liquor licence bylaw contained regulations for controlling physical availability of alcohol and outlet density. Finance officials were licensing officers and there were no licensing committees across the LGCs. The LGC officials were unanimous in stating that generating revenue from licensing fees was the main objective for licensing alcohol outlets. The LGCs licensed alcohol outlets indiscriminately and failed to regulate outlet density. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The absence of regulations for controlling outlet density has implications for physical availability of alcohol in Nigeria. Our findings strongly suggest the need to develop national liquor licensing legislation with public health objectives and implementing regulations for controlling temporal and spatial availability of alcohol. Each LGC should inaugurate a licensing committee with clearly defined roles and responsibilities for licensing stakeholders such as LGC health officials, law enforcement agencies and community members.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Patton
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
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Odeigah OW, Patton R, Trangenstein P. Alcohol outlet density and marketing in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Alcohol Alcohol 2023; 58:628-636. [PMID: 37706528 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agad058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM The physical availability of alcohol is a modifiable determinant of alcohol consumption and related harm. However, Nigeria currently does not have national regulations restricting the physical availability of alcohol. The study measured alcohol outlet density and marketing in Abeokuta, Nigeria. METHODS A descriptive community design was employed. Seven wards in Abeokuta South local government were surveyed street by street for functional alcohol outlets and nearby public institutions (schools and worship centres). Outlet characteristics were documented, and the location of outlets and public institutions was geocoded using a global positioning system app. The density and proximity of outlets and public institutions were analysed using QGIS 3.22. RESULTS Four hundred and seventy-six alcohol outlets and 194 public institutions (82 schools, 87 churches, and 25 mosques) were sampled across the 7 wards. The most common type of alcohol premises and outlets was on/off-premises and liquor/non-alcoholic drinks stores. Alcohol banners on liquor store lintels were the most prevalent marketing item. Alcohol outlet density ranged from 8.06 to 200 per km2. The smallest average distance between alcohol outlets was 28 m in Sodeke, while Ago Egun/Ijesa had the highest number of outlets and on/off premises. The shortest distance from an outlet to a school was 18.77 m in Ijaiye and 44 (14.7%) schools were located within ≤100 m of an outlet. CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate high alcohol density, resulting in short distances between alcohol outlets and public institutions in Abeokuta South local government area. These results underscore the importance of implementing evidence-based alcohol availability policies in Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ogochukwu W Odeigah
- Department of Psychology, Chrisland University, K/M 5 Ajebo Road, P. M. B. 2131, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
| | - Robert Patton
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Pamela Trangenstein
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound Street, Suite 450, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
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Sadler RC, Wojciechowski TW, Trangenstein P, Harris A, Buchalski Z, Furr-Holden D. Linking Historical Discriminatory Housing Patterns to the Contemporary Alcohol Environment. APPLIED SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND POLICY 2022; 16:561-581. [PMID: 36532713 PMCID: PMC9734485 DOI: 10.1007/s12061-022-09493-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Research on alcohol outlet density consistently shows greater disparities in exposure in disinvested communities. Likewise, structural racism via discriminatory housing practices has created many of the issues that beset contemporary disinvested neighborhoods. Little work, however, has examined the relationship between housing practices and alcohol outlet disparities. The central premise of our work is that these discriminatory and inequitable practices create distinctions in the alcohol environment, and that such disparities have implications for work on alcohol policy. Here we link alcohol outlet density with a spatial database examining redlining, blockbusting, and gentrification in Baltimore, Maryland, and Flint, Michigan (two cities with common experiences of urban disinvestment over the last 50 years). Standard measures are used to account for the impacts of neighborhood racial, socioeconomic, and housing composition in a multilevel model. Our findings highlight that gentrification and redlining are strongly associated with alcohol outlet density, while blockbusting is not. Gentrification and redlining also frequently co-occur in inner-urban areas, while the more suburban phenomenon of blockbusting rarely overlaps with either. These findings further contextualize nascent work on structural racism in housing that illustrates important disparities along the lines of these distinct practices. Future work should consider how legacy impacts of discriminatory housing patterns impact our communities today.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alan Harris
- Michigan State University, 200 E 1st St., Flint, MI 48502 USA
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Gruenewald PJ, Sumetsky N, Gaidus A, Ponicki W, Lee JP, Mair C. Assessing the impacts of alcohol outlets on crime as a natural experiment: agglomeration, churning and spatial effects. Addiction 2022; 117:2614-2622. [PMID: 35491751 DOI: 10.1111/add.15914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Retail alcohol outlets appear to open in neighborhoods with low land and structure rents near sources of demand; they may 'agglomerate', open near to one another or 'churn', replace one another, over time. We used the turnover in numbers of outlets over time to measure agglomeration and churning and the impacts of openings and closings of outlets on neighborhood crime. DESIGN Interrupted quasi-experiments using spatial panel population data from 3768 synthetic block areas over 6 years. SETTING City of Oakland, CA, USA. PARTICIPANTS City population. MEASUREMENTS Census-based socio-demographic estimates and counts of openings and closings of bars/pubs, restaurants and off-premises outlets related to assault, burglary and robbery crime incidents across synthetic Census blocks. Bayesian space-time models were used to assess agglomeration and churning and measure impacts of openings/closings on crime. FINDINGS Churning was substantial; openings followed closings for all outlets [bars/pubs, relative risk (RR) = 50.9, 95% credible interval (CI) = 3.0-449.9; restaurants, RR = 3.1, CI = 1.5-6.1; off-premises, RR = 23.5, CI = 2.0-129.8]. Bars/pub and restaurant openings agglomerated with other outlets (e.g., RR = 1.02, CI = 1.00-1.03 and RR = 1.01, CI = 1.00-1.01), but off-premises outlets did not. Covarying out effects related to outlet densities, bar/pub openings were related to a 3.5% increase in assaults (RR = 1.04, CI = 1.01-1.06) and 6.9% increase in robberies (RR = 1.07, CI = 1.03-1.11). Restaurant openings were related to a 5.3% increase in burglaries (RR = 1.05, CI = 1.04-1.06). Openings and closings of off-premises outlets were unrelated to all three crime types. CONCLUSIONS Retail alcohol outlets appear to follow a pattern of opening near to one another and replacing each other over time. Bar, pub and restaurant openings appear to be related to increases in neighborhood crime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Gruenewald
- Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Natalie Sumetsky
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Gaidus
- Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - William Ponicki
- Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Juliet P Lee
- Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Christina Mair
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, PA, USA
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Matson PA, Stankov I, Hassmiller Lich K, Flessa S, Lowy J, Thornton RLJ. A systems framework depicting how complex neighborhood dynamics and contextual factors could impact the effectiveness of an alcohol outlet zoning policy. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 70:18-32. [PMID: 34784432 DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An updated zoning policy eliminating all alcohol outlets (liquor stores) in residential districts was implemented to reduce high rates of violent crime in Baltimore City. Diverse stakeholders were engaged in group model building (GMB) activities to develop causal loop diagrams (CLDs) that elucidate the impact of the new zoning policy on crime, and more broadly, the potentially unintended social and environmental consequences of the policy. Three distinct groups, community advocates, city officials/academics, and community residents, participated in three separate GMB sessions. Three CLDs, one from each stakeholder group, were created to depict the possible outcomes of the zoning policy. Our findings offer insight into potential unintended consequences of removing liquor stores from residential areas that may undermine the policy. Community members described the need for additional supports related to mental health and substance use, opportunities for investment in the community, access to other goods and services, and community-police relations to ensure the policy achieved its intended goal of reducing violent crime. Our findings highlight the importance of timely engagement of local stakeholders to understand how complex neighborhood dynamics and contextual factors could impact the effectiveness of a zoning policy change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela A Matson
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ivana Stankov
- Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kristen Hassmiller Lich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sarah Flessa
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacob Lowy
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rachel L J Thornton
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Lardier DT, Opara I, Lin Y, Roach E, Herrera A, Garcia-Reid P, Reid RJ. A Spatial Analysis of Alcohol Outlet Density Type, Abandoned Properties, and Police Calls on Aggravated Assault Rates in a Northeastern U.S. City. Subst Use Misuse 2021; 56:1527-1535. [PMID: 34210249 PMCID: PMC8324007 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1942053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: Community-based research and prevention scholarship has shown a growing interest in examining the impact of the ecological structure of neighborhoods on community violence. Ecological structures such as higher numbers of alcohol outlets and abandoned/vacant properties in geographically dense, poor, and socially isolated communities are critically important to consider. Further, disadvantaged urban communities are burdened by greater police presence with limited or no abatement in crime or violence. Purpose: Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, spatial analysis techniques, and a negative binomial regression analyses, this study investigated the relationships between alcohol outlet density consisting of license C (i.e., combined on and off premises establishments) and license D (i.e., off premises establishments such as liquor stores), abandoned properties, and police calls to service on aggravated assault rates in a Northeastern United States urban city. Results: Negative binomial regression analysis results showed that license C alcohol outlet density count (IRR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.08, 2.11), license D alcohol outlet density count (IRR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.30), abandoned property count (IRR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.01, 2.01), and police call to service counts (IRR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.50) were positively associated with aggravated assault rates. Analyses controlled for census data characteristics. Conclusions: The link between alcohol outlet density and violent crime has been established in public health research. However, this study represents an important contribution in recognizing the unique relationships between license C and license D alcohol outlet density, abandoned properties, and police calls to service with aggravated assaults in an urban neighborhood. Conclusions are drawn for policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T. Lardier
- Department of Individual, Family, and Community Education, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Ijeoma Opara
- Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Emily Roach
- Department of Individual, Family, and Community Education, College of Education and Human Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Andriana Herrera
- Department of Public Health, College of Education and Human Services, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
| | - Pauline Garcia-Reid
- Department of Family Science and Human Development, College of Education and Human Services, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
| | - Robert J. Reid
- Department of Family Science and Human Development, College of Education and Human Services, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
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Trangenstein PJ, Sadler R, Morrison CN, Jernigan DH. Looking Back and Moving Forward: The Evolution and Potential Opportunities for the Future of Alcohol Outlet Density Measurement. ADDICTION RESEARCH & THEORY 2020; 29:117-128. [PMID: 33883975 PMCID: PMC8054780 DOI: 10.1080/16066359.2020.1751128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The literature consistently finds that areas with greater density of alcohol outlets (places that sell alcohol) tend to have higher levels of public health harms. However, conflicting findings arise when researchers drill down to identify the type(s) of alcohol outlets with the strongest associations with harms and the mechanisms that explain these associations. These disagreements could be a result of the outdated methods commonly used to quantify the alcohol environment: counts of the number of outlets in an area. This manuscript reviews the events and ideas that shaped the literature on the physical alcohol environment. It then defines the three main methods used to measure alcohol outlet density, conducts an exploratory factor analysis to explore the constructs underlying each method, and presents a novel conceptual framework that summarizes the three methods, their respective underlying constructs, and the setting(s) in which each may be most appropriate. The framework proposes that counts of alcohol outlets measure availability, proximity to the nearest outlet measures accessibility, and spatial access measures measure access, which comprises both availability and accessibility. We argue that researchers should consider using proximity and spatial access measures when possible and outline how doing so may present opportunities to advance theory and the design and implementation of alcohol outlet zoning regulations. Finally, this manuscript draws on research from other areas of the built environment to suggest opportunities to use novel methods to overcome common hurdles (e.g., separating subtypes of outlets, ecologic designs) and a new challenge on the horizon: home delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- PJ. Trangenstein
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings
School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior, Chapel Hill, NC
29599
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of
Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston, MA 02118
| | - R. Sadler
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Department of Family Medicine/Division of Public Health Flint, MI 48502
| | - CN. Morrison
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health,
Department of Epidemiology, New York, NY 10032
- Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive
Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Melbourne, VIC 3000,
Australia
| | - DH. Jernigan
- Boston University School of Public Health, Department of
Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston, MA 02118
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