Alcohol outlets and alcohol consumption in changing environments: prevalence and changes over time

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Substance Use Research

Background:

• Regulatory changes in some states increased alcohol availability.
• Understanding the impact of alcohol outlet density on consumption is crucial for public health.
• This study investigates the relationship between changes in alcohol outlet density and consumption patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine if changes in neighborhood alcohol outlet density influenced alcohol consumption.
• To assess consumption changes one year after regulatory shifts that increased alcohol availability.

Main Methods:

• A population-based cohort (aged 21-64) in the Philadelphia metropolitan area was studied (N=772).
• Data collected between 2016-2018 included alcohol consumption (days/week, drinks/week, high consumption, binge drinking) and alcohol outlet proximity/density.
• Regression models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic factors.

Main Results:

• Higher alcohol outlet density correlated with increased alcohol consumption (days, drinks, high consumption).
• Living farther from an outlet was associated with lower consumption.
• Exposure to more outlets longitudinally increased odds of drinking more days/week (64%) and consuming more drinks/week (55%).
• No significant difference in longitudinal associations was found between states with new regulations and those without; binge drinking was not associated with outlet density.

Conclusions:

• Off-premise alcohol outlets consistently showed associations with alcohol consumption in cross-sectional and some longitudinal analyses.
• Findings suggest that increased alcohol availability through outlets can influence consumption patterns.
• Results can inform future research on the long-term effects of alcohol availability on consumption.